On top of getting hacked and piracy concerns, it would also drastically reduce the performance, efficiency, and battery life of the unit. If it truly needs Android to be appealing and succeed, it's a failed concept. Saying that it would do worse than Wii U is pretty extreme though.
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Am I crazy to think that Switch will do worse than Wii U if it doesn't run Android?
- Thread starter Shogmaster
- Start date
Shogmaster
Member
Just like Amazon Fire tablets, Switch doesn't need to run actual Android OS. Just let people get apps from PlayStore or Aptoide somehow.
dickgumshoe
Member
Is the number of people today carrying tablets around very high?
MasterOfNone
Member
Dorsn't have to be running Android to run Android apps.
Shogmaster
Member
I would imagine it's pretty high. Not as high as smartphones obviously but certainly much higher than portable consoles like 3DS and Vita.
Yep. I just said that too. If I can get Aptoide on it I'm on board.
Pokemaniac
Member
It does need it for the Play Store, though. Google is fairly particular about licensing for that.
OrbitalBeard
Member
I'm not going to call you crazy, but your premise certainly is.
And just like Amazon Fire tablets, that shit would get hacked in five seconds.
This ain't running Android, which anyways is good since most of it would be bloat for a dedicated games console.
Conkerkid11
Member
Wat
Shogmaster
Member
I'm sure retail version will have significantly higher battery life than 3 hrs max of the dev kit. I think the custom NVidia chip will aim for better efficiency over power. I predict will have less raw power than X1 and clocked much less as well in mobile mode. Even with FP16, I'd bet on 500~700 GFLOPS range.
I do think it would probably have an extra audience with Android support, but I dont think that means it'll do worse than the Wii U without it.
As long as they really support the shit out of the Switch and promote it well, it'll do better. Which it already has gotten way more attention and less confusion than the Wii U ever has.
That's not to say it'll sell like hot cakes, I think it's way too complicated for it's own good (really think the detachable controllers adds way more complication than worth it for how little benefit it gives you). But the Wii U has been a fucking shit show.
As long as they really support the shit out of the Switch and promote it well, it'll do better. Which it already has gotten way more attention and less confusion than the Wii U ever has.
That's not to say it'll sell like hot cakes, I think it's way too complicated for it's own good (really think the detachable controllers adds way more complication than worth it for how little benefit it gives you). But the Wii U has been a fucking shit show.
nephilimdj
Member
Google hates companies using forks of Android, even Samsung refuses to use there version outside of South Korea. Nintendo most likely said fuck it, when Google started bullying them if they heard they were testing.
Yeah, you can see Switch lying around in the discount boxes already. /s
Don't go full trolling, you need to be more subtle. You can do better next time.
Windows Phone - 110M lifetime sales (vs. 4.5b iOS and Android devices combined) as of January 2016 (http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/28/10864034/windows-phone-is-dead)
Wii U - 13.02M Units shipped as of June 30th 2016 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_U#Sales)
Windows Phones are okay, they use to have some fun interesting games at launch (Crimson Dragon: Side Story was pretty fun, DoDonPachi Maximum was great too) but the mobile OS is basically on life support now.
Shogmaster
Member
If it's not called Android, google does not give much fucks. See Remix OS, Phoenix OS, etc... And they all run Android apps no problem.
I think it will help sales somewhat, and at worst when everyone and their mom abandons development of the console, we'd still have games support.
But for the life of me I don't understand why anyone would want to browse the Internet on a 7" 230ppi screen, when they most likely have a higher contrast 5.5" 460ppi screen in their pocket, where you also don't have to fiddle around with joycons.
But for the life of me I don't understand why anyone would want to browse the Internet on a 7" 230ppi screen, when they most likely have a higher contrast 5.5" 460ppi screen in their pocket, where you also don't have to fiddle around with joycons.
lol no. It wouldn't have a fucking fan if it were going to be that weak, especially if it ends up being Pascal-based. 250 GFLOPS FP32 can run passively very easily, even on the stock X1.
ScientificPizza
Banned
is there an android device that's HASN'T been completely broken open?
I don't think Nintendo would want to open themselves up to that
I don't think Nintendo would want to open themselves up to that
nephilimdj
Member
China is different, see fake Apple stores
Shogmaster
Member
Fan vents would be for when it is docked anyways. And you are high with X1 expectations. As a kite.
Shogmaster
Member
Remix OS is for US consumption by US entity. I had it running on my Miix 700 no problem.
Just so we're clear here: Are you talking about the Tegra X1 or the Xbone?
shouamabane
Member
Wii U is a low bar, OP. Especially for a Nintendo handheld.
OrbitalBeard
Member
He's not talking about the Xbox One.
Fox_Mulder
Rockefellers. Skull and Bones. Microsoft. Al Qaeda. A Cabal of Bankers. The melting point of steel. What do these things have in common? Wake up sheeple, the landfill wasn't even REAL!
No
Shogmaster
Member
I thought you meant XB One. Yeah, TX1 level clock and raw power is fine for when it is docked, but not when running on batteries.
Shogmaster
Member
One of my fav portable gaming console runs Android (GPD XD). Not even latest. It's like 4.4 ffs. Access to the app library is what is the key, not the OS itself.
Brat-Sampson
Member
It's a games console, not a tablet... We haven't even seen proof of a touch screen.
The last thing Switch needs is 'apps' or Android or phone/tablet functionality, it would only muddy the water wrt what kind of device they're selling. Just give it good games and developer support.
The last thing Switch needs is 'apps' or Android or phone/tablet functionality, it would only muddy the water wrt what kind of device they're selling. Just give it good games and developer support.
I still believe in Pascal, so idk. I'm also not convinced that it clocks down while mobile at all since I don't think it would be able to switch so easily like that. Maybe things could go the way you hope if the fan is powerful enough to cool it at 1.5GHz, and so it runs at 750MHz on the go (which should work passively on Pascal, especially given the heatsink). The issue is that the fan is going to result in less battery space.
SinCityAssassin
Member
Yes.
Android is a poor choice for a proprietary game console, as the Ouya helped demonstrate. The horror stories I've heard about its graphics stack alone are pretty terrifying. I for one hope that Nintendo does the right thing and builds something based on FreeBSD; easier licensing, less rigid software stack, a kernel that's not bogged down by Linux's enterprise server crap, and better facilities for systems programming (ahh, kqueues....).
Shogmaster
Member
I guess it all depends on N's sales expectations. If they are happy with 3DS numbers, then they can just focus on the games and keep the price close to 3DS. But if they want OG Wii level of launch success, the same old quality games formula won't cut it IMO. Wii U had plenty of quality games too.
Mr. Pointy
Member
I think some form of easy .apk conversion for devs will happen and there'll be non-gaming apps like Netflix, Youtube and maybe Pornhub, but that's about it. It'll have its own OS. NintendOS.
Shogmaster
Member
TX1 often ran at 20W under load. Even with smaller process node, if it's packing TX1 level raw power, you will be lucky to get 3 hours battery life with the battery size allowed by that small chassis.
Can understand OP's concern. The Android app library would be a massive plus for the system considering all the different multimedia options you would get, something Nintendo has always just barely scraped by with.
But I think a closed platform where they can control all of the software at all levels is what's in their best interest. You know, to preserve that child-friendly brand/image. Children that are spending their waking hours on iPads and iPhones as soon as they hit 3 years old.
But I think a closed platform where they can control all of the software at all levels is what's in their best interest. You know, to preserve that child-friendly brand/image. Children that are spending their waking hours on iPads and iPhones as soon as they hit 3 years old.
Pancakes R Us
Member
I don't think it'll fail due to lack of Android, but do think it could fail if Nintendo doesn't get pricing low enough and they think think they can just get by with the same games for the core Nintendo crowd (this time with ports from Wii U). Obviously we haven't seen many games, so I'll be interested to see what they have up their sleeves. As a core Nintendo fanboy, I just don't see very much exciting about the Switch at the moment. It hasn't wowed me or anything. That said, I'm happy that it's returning to a more traditional control method (more or less). The joycons don't appeal in the slightest, but glad there's a pro controller and a shell to combin the JCs.
I don't get this sentiment. The writing is on the wall, dedicated handhelds are going away, most people play on phones and tablets. Nintendo could go super enthusiast market and not even use a touchscreen but why? Why limit this thing? Give it touch, give it apps.
Heck, every console needs "Apps" nowadays.
Is their a Nintendo device that hasn't been completely broken open?
Check Pixel C.
Shogmaster
Member
I don't see Switch costing less than $250. Actually, we should consider ourselves lucky if it's only $250. At that price and above, I don't think it will do well without added value like Android app support, especially for that familiar tablet form factor and size.
KojiKnight
Member
Years versus days is what we're talking about. No security is perfect.
Blackpuppy
Member
What he said. Armchair analysts will say otherwise, but Android is not the end all be all of mobile operating systems. It was built to run on a multitude of devices so all the apps run in a java virtural machine which hinders performance. It can do games but not very well.
Nintendo needs something more low level and light and fast. Android is not the answer.
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