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Posts: 56 | Thanked: 35 times | Joined on Apr 2010 @ Iowa
#85
Originally Posted by danramos View Post
I'm not sure I entirely follow you. If I format the data and cache on my phone (basically, reformat the phone's NVRAM containing my info) and then install a clean OS on it (say, Android 2.2), if I avoid logging into Google, I can run it just fine and it works as expected. I even install a bunch of apps without the Android market just fine (I just can't install purchased apps, but that obviously goes without saying). I've actually done this and let it stay that way for a good half a day to see what it's like--and it worked just fine without ANY Google interaction whatsoever. Stability was the least of my any problems I could have even considered.

If you intend to use paid apps, you DO need to log in to authorize those purchases, but if you intend to use purely open-sourced apps (like the one I linked to in my last reply to you) or free apps, you don't need the Android Market at all.

If I'm misunderstanding the situation, please let me know. I'll definitely agree that life is much easier if you agree to use Google and the Android Market, though, but you aren't forced to use it to have a usable phone with applications.
I don't have time to query xda-developers but last year it was definitely the case that if you didn't log in to Google, there were phone features that were not guaranteed to work. I spent a lot of time flashing Cyanogen roms and reading the forums. But Android 2.2 is definitely better than 1.6 in most ways. It's faster and more stable, so maybe that isn't an issue anymore.

However, even if you can use Android without Google, I personally wouldn't bother because apps are one of the main draws. But technically, yes, you can.

The N900 is still more standalone friendly. It isn't much of a selling point for most people, though. Eye candy and apps still win there.

Terry