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Because almost every single widget is that way. I don't know what it is about Android, but it seems to encourage absolutely awful design. Maybe it's because Metro is very specific and sparse that WP is less visually offensive. Maybe it's the design tools available. I have no idea. But the number of Android widgets I've found that look even moderately good can be counted on one hand.

"Because almost every single widget is that way."

Pure unadulterated BS. Carry on.

Edit: The mod down is funny. So "almost every" Android widget has "far too attention grabbing and obtrusive- silly animations of clouds moving in front of a sun, nonsense like that" now? Almost every single one? Because that's what he said. I actually have several Android devices and it is absolutely not true that almost every widget is like that.

And furthermore, who says weather widgets with the sun and clouds and whatever else are silly? There are a lot of people that actually like those widgets and it seems a bit arrogant to condescend their tastes just because you think you know better.

This brand of partisan hate and mod-bombing is why I avoid the comment section on almost every tech site these days.

Don't make me out to be some sort of fanboy- I am an Android user myself. I'm not particularly interested in unduely bashing the platform. But I don't see how you can possible argue against the fact that Android has, far and away, the weakest UI out of iOS, Android and WP. That isn't always the case- the Gmail app, for instance, is fantastic. So is Maps. On the third party side, so is the new beta of Spotify.

But the vast, vast majority of apps are not. And that carries through to widgets as well. As I said, I don't know exactly why that is- poor guidelines on Google's party, bad tools, I don't know. But Android is hugely inconsistent.

The only thing I was arguing against is the completely false claim that "almost all" Android widgets "silly" "attention grabbing" "obtrusive" etc. That is not even remotely true unless I am just the luckiest widget picker in the world. Maybe you are going off the widgets that HTC and Samsung ship with their skins. Yes, those widgets are garrish but it's just like how the TV's in the showroom will be cranked up to maximum brightness and saturation. It looks good in the store next to the other guy (I suppose). The widgets I have downloaded off the market including AK Notepad, Aldiko, Apollo, BTMono, Connectbot, Drive, Dropbox, Elixir, Engadget, Evernote, Flashlight, Google Play Music, gReader, Google Voice, Juice Defender and on and on, none of them have the behavior and appearance you are decrying.

As far as your question of why Android apps look like crap sometimes I would imagine that devs have an easier time making money in the iOS app store so they make a larger effort polishing the apps that they put in there. Some apps are exactly the same between Android and iOS like Pulse. Some apps have a better iOS counterpart like the Engadget app. And of course, some very similar apps have better Android versions like gReader vs. Feedler.

I have devices that run iOS, Android and Windows Phone and for many reasons, I use my Android devices 90 percent of the time and the 10 percent of the time I use the other stuff it has nothing to do with the quality of the apps.

Because he's talking about the capabilities (what app developers are able to do to your home screen) of each platform.

What's wrong with giving developers great capabilities? If bad widgets are made people won't keep them installed. When the occasional true gem comes along it will make the enhanced capabilities worth it. As far as widgets go in general, if you don't like them you can just not install any at all or you can be very selective and only keep the ones that conform to your personal sensibilities and taste. Advocating removing power from developers on a component that is completely optional seems daft.

"Just because I can use a hammer, doesn't mean I can build a house". Android opens up the entire tool box for you and expects you to be a responsible designer. Problem is, not everybody has the skills to do effective UX. Just because it's pretty, doesn't make it usable. This can tarnish the platform experience.

Part of Apple's strength in their walled-garden is that they have created an ecosystem of design. Google tried to do the same, and enforce style guidelines, to no avail. Seems like Microsoft has created a similar ecosystem that encourages usability.

"This can tarnish the platform experience."

Yeah, the Android experience is so "tarnished" that the OS ships on almost a million phones a day. Did you ever consider the possibility that the majority of consumers have a different opinion of what is useable than you?

The stock android experience is amazing, and there are plenty of outstanding apps for the platform. However, I'm talking about setting and enforcing design standards. Android has yet to do that successfully.

Also, I said "can" tarnish the platform experience, not "will" or "did". Ask a professional designer to compare the general style and branding of the WP, Apple, and Android platforms. They will likely tell you that there is a clear cohesion between Apple apps.

Android ships on an incredible amount of phones because of availability. How many free iPhones do you get on activation? It's a cheap (and good) platform for a carrier and vendors to use. Thus, the volume of Android devices is high. Furthermore, volume shipped has almost nothing to do with usability. How many different vendors have created their own UI for Android?

P.S. I'm not an apple fanboy. I have a Droid X and a Kindle Fire, both rooted and toyed with various ROMs.