It wont physically remove the skin from the phone, however it will remove the skin from the interface. Have a look at the screenshots of something like Go Launcher and Nova Launcher in the play store. For something really cool have a look at SPB Shell 3D. Once you install a launcher, it removes sense/touchwiz etc from the interface.

They wont give you stock android, if you want that buy a nexus device (or root your phone and put on a pure android rom).

Well, the thread title is "Step back".

The OP probably now knows what he's doing and it would be interesting to know his decision thoughts..

It depends, a step back in terms of features and customisibility, but a step up in terms of reliability, fluidity and ecosystems.

Random designy thing... HTC phone shots nearly always use the time 10:08 on their large digital clock widget.
https://www.google.com/search?q=htc%...=wi&authuser=0

Conventional analog clocks/watches will usually be photographed at the same time, which is probably where the HTC thing came from. (or sometimes 10 to 2, which looks v similar)
https://www.google.com/search?q=watc...&tbm=isch&sa=X

Sunshine is obvious, but I bet that 23 degrees has been determined to be the most 'attractive' looking temperature.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but the iPhones static weather icon isn't the same as a marketing decision about what time to show on a photo.

what makes you think its different? Do you think they just picked 23 deg out of a hat?

So much for simplicity eh?

The difference is that on a real HTC phone, the clock (and weather widget) works, i.e. it shows the time (and the weather).

The Apple weather icon always shows the same display, even if its -10 and snowing outside.

i guarantee that if it was added all we would get it constant complaints about how this is draining the battery - no win situation really.

Both Android and iOS have their advantages. I use both: iOS on my iPhone/iPad and Android on my Nexus 7. I don't think that going from Android to iOS is going backwards (nor do I think the other way around). I think that there will be some things you'll miss, e.g. widgets and some customisability but to be honest, when I use my phone I just like to use my phone. When it comes to hardware, there is clearly a lot more choice with Android devices, though again, iPhone is simple, clean and easy to use (I don't though, like the new iPhone 5 as it looks too 'stretched' to me).

It's 23 and sunny somewhere!

and a static clock is at least correct once a day (and sometimes twice a day).

That's the difference between icons (which are static) and widgets (which can run code - but use the battery!). IOS has not got widgets - Android has!

"Simple, clean, easy,beautiful, reliability, fluidity and ecosystems."
It's certainly not small on 'executive' superlatives.

Very much a sideways step.

There is the S3 Mini now.

Yes, but it isn't very good.

Eh?

Its perfectly good! Its till a hell of a powerful phone!

The S3 mini? Is it not a dual core 1Ghz processor it has?

The S2 is better cause its bigger. That's your sentiment sized.

Talking of phones, why do we still use the word smartphone when obviously, N4 and such like are surely phablets?

After using the S3 for a few months now, I could not go back to a smaller screen like the iphone 5 has.

Sorry, what I meant by that is I do not consider it a premium phone, I thought it was going to be, but it isn't. You are right, it is good.


BIB, I don't understand what point you are trying to make. I didn't mention the S2.

Its known as 'happy time' ..... hands at 10 and 2 look like the face is smiling. This has strangely been a tradition carried across to digital times too. Dave Gorman does part of his stand up tour 'set' discussing this - along with Samsungs use of a fictional use of a Twitterer called "Rick Stivens" in all their promo shots ..... although no longer fictional worth following if you are a twitter fan (along with following Mr Gorman himself)

Isn't that the time every clock photo has used in catalogues or something for all of time?

yep. exactly. its a tradition. Its no longer relevant on digital (as it doesnt look smiley) but its been continued regardless.... which is kind of nice

This question is impossible to answer, let's not forget Googles Android OS is not like Apples OS. Bassically there are many many versions of Googles OS right now. Not all apps/games will run on all versions.

An if you do get the latest version and wait for all your apps to be updated then Google will update the OS again and lots of things will stop working. What works right now on jellybean will probably be screwed up by key lime pie which is due sometime soon. But then you need to wonder will your phone even get the next update?

Google have just abandoned there own nexus s, which isn't even 2 years old.