CMF1_hacker You’re saying I “drifted away from the narrative” — but the real drift started when this thread turned into a weird defense of Google Photos and cloud backup. Let’s bring it back: this isn’t about whether Google’s apps are “good enough.” It’s about whether Nothing should settle for “good enough” and outsource its user experience to Google, or actually build something original.
You argue that Nothing should focus only on the OS because dev resources are limited. But the OS is not just the launcher and settings menu. Core apps — like dialer, messaging, gallery, recorder, notes, and even wellbeing tools — are part of the everyday experience. Acting like they don’t matter is ignoring how users actually interact with their phone.
And let’s be real: Nothing didn’t build an OS from scratch. They’re working off AOSP like everyone else. You’ve probably seen what small custom ROM teams have done with that same base — with far fewer resources than Nothing. Some of those ROMs are more refined than what major OEMs ship. So saying “there’s no time or budget for apps” just feels like an excuse.
You mentioned N Dial — that’s a custom app. It exists because someone decided to not settle for the default. Same with Zen Space on OnePlus. Have you used it? It actually locks you out of your phone to help you focus. That’s miles ahead of Google’s “Digital Wellbeing,” which just shows you a timer while you continue doomscrolling.
This is the point: Google’s apps are generic by design. OEMs that want to stand out — Samsung, OnePlus, Nothing — need to build their own experiences. That includes apps.
Saying “I’d rather subcontract third-party apps” is fine — but that’s literally how we ended up with a fragmented Android ecosystem. If you care about long-term value, privacy, or user control, building your own stack matters. And if you ever deGoogle your phone or flash a custom ROM, you’ll wish Nothing’s apps existed to bring that familiar OS feel back.
Also, people do use OEM apps. Ask Samsung or OnePlus users if they prefer Google Photos over their native gallery — the answer usually isn’t “yes.” A fast, offline-first, ad-free gallery isn’t a luxury. It’s expected.
So yeah, Nothing building its own app ecosystem isn’t a waste — it’s an investment in identity, user trust, and long-term value. The argument that “Google already does it” is the same one that killed innovation in other OEMs. Let’s not repeat that here.
