Android user thinking of being a Traitor

[ceredon]

You can blink all you want but I'm not talking about the low-end or mid-range phones. The GS1-GS2-GS3 were all released over the past 3 years. The HTC EVO LTE came 2 years after the original Evo 4G, with the EVO 3D and EVO Design in the meantim. The GS3 is identical on all carriers no? Why can't we use one Android phone as an example? 5 GS3's on 5 different carriers are going to have the same exact software. The only flagship product line that is really messy is the DROID lineup and that's all Verizon's doing. Android manufactures are cleaning up their act when it comes to releasing many variants of the same phone.

Isn't the GS3 the first Galaxy that was sold and branded identically across carriers?* If that is so, then it is hard to use that as an example, as it is hardly common.

*I am not saying this is the case, just that I recall reading that one of the big differentiators of the S3 was Samsung was going to roll it out as the same model with the same model names across all carriers.

[rawrr_847]

Honestly, what caught my eye on this post was Android and Traitor in the same sentence lol.
Well, iOS is alot less complicated than Android. You can't do alot of the things you can do on Android.,On the other hand, the things you can do are alot easier on IOS. iOS has a friendlier and more familiar user interface. I believe the 'fuss' is that when you go to the gym (for example) and on the treadmill, you can plug your iPhone in. There isn't a jack for android. Personally, I think android is alot better. But there are alot more problems. Lol, my reply has been all over the place, I'm trying to show both sides in my experience, but overall, I've had alot better experience with Android. But if you are going to get an iPhone, I would wait until the iPhone 5 comes out. It might be a little while, but trust me, I'm sure it will be worth it.(: Hope I helped(:

[Sir Topas]

My $0.02:

iPhone is great if you want:
simplicity
good battery life
to stay in the Apple ecosystem (due to apps, music, etc.)
a larger selection of apps
a larger selection of accessories (e.g., case that charges your battery...yes Android phones have 'em, but there are way more for iPhone)
updates that are guaranteed for at least a few generations
a great camera

Android is great if you want:
widgets
more cutting edge specs and features (e.g., NFC, better processors)
to hack your phone
to stay in the Google ecosystem (e.g., Gmail, Google Voice, etc.)
certain apps that Apple won't approve (e.g., WiFi Analyzer)
free turn-by-turn navigation (though Apple is rumored to be releasing theirs soon)
a better stock email client (can do multiple signatures, for example)
larger screens

These lists are not exhaustive and were written spontaneously. I'm sure I left out some good points but hopefully that gives you something to chew on.

[Aurelian]

As someone who owns both an iPhone 4S and a Galaxy Nexus (and has had to review numerous examples from both sides), I've seen much of either platform -- up to and including Android 4.1. My summary of the Android vs. iPhone debate still boils down to this:

Android is for people who like to do things to their phones. The iPhone is for people who like to do things with their phones.

Some people like to fret over having just the right widget or custom ROM. But many don't. And here's the thing -- it's okay to just want a smooth-running phone. As much as I like what the Galaxy Nexus can do, I keep going back to the iPhone because it's very good at the things that come up in everyday life, like browsing, media playback (definitely Apple's strong suit), photography and gaming during those downtime moments. Android is an OS designed by power users for power users, which has the side effects of a more complicated OS and more tolerance for flaws.

You're not a "traitor" if you go to iOS. You've just decided that some element of the OS appeals to you more, or that you'd rather spend more time using your phone and less time tinkering with it. Not that Android can't get there, but it's rarer. And if you value having the most refined app ecosystem, iOS is still the place to go.

As for turn-by-turn navigation like Sir Topaz mentioned, it's not a rumor... Apple will be bringing it to iOS 6 in the fall, most likely October. Google was effectively blocking turn-by-turn because it was making some pretty unreasonable demands for control over Apple's own software -- to get nav, Apple would have had to allow Latitude tracking (a big no-no for a privacy-sensitive Apple) and plaster the Google brand everywhere.

[Doolie]

As someone who owns both an iPhone 4S and a Galaxy Nexus (and has had to review numerous examples from both sides), I've seen much of either platform -- up to and including Android 4.1. My summary of the Android vs. iPhone debate still boils down to this:

Android is for people who like to do things to their phones. The iPhone is for people who like to do things with their phones.

Some people like to fret over having just the right widget or custom ROM. But many don't. And here's the thing -- it's okay to just want a smooth-running phone. As much as I like what the Galaxy Nexus can do, I keep going back to the iPhone because it's very good at the things that come up in everyday life, like browsing, media playback (definitely Apple's strong suit), photography and gaming during those downtime moments. Android is an OS designed by power users for power users, which has the side effects of a more complicated OS and more tolerance for flaws.

You're not a "traitor" if you go to iOS. You've just decided that some element of the OS appeals to you more, or that you'd rather spend more time using your phone and less time tinkering with it. Not that Android can't get there, but it's rarer. And if you value having the most refined app ecosystem, iOS is still the place to go.

As for turn-by-turn navigation like Sir Topaz mentioned, it's not a rumor... Apple will be bringing it to iOS 6 in the fall, most likely October. Google was effectively blocking turn-by-turn because it was making some pretty unreasonable demands for control over Apple's own software -- to get nav, Apple would have had to allow Latitude tracking (a big no-no for a privacy-sensitive Apple) and plaster the Google brand everywhere.

Or you can just install one of the many iPhone apps available in the App Store that already offer voice-guided turn-by-turn navigation.

It always freaks out my Android OS friends when I use one of these and they exclaim, "How are you able to do that? I thought you couldn't do that on an iPhone!"

[Kies]

Whatever the iPhone does at the help of the App Store Android does it better, does more of it, or does it easier. That's a fact

[ceredon]

Whatever the iPhone does at the help of the App Store Android does it better, does more of it, or does it easier. That's a fact

No, that would be an opinion. My opinion is that Android is never, and by definition of the platform can never, be as polished or integrated as iOS.

[jcalder]

Whatever the iPhone does at the help of the App Store Android does it better, does more of it, or does it easier. That's a fact

No, that is not a fact, that is your opinion which is far from fact.

"Better" is a relative term, please don't lose your grip on reality. You apparently have 4 Android phones, obviously you prefer them, which is fine, but stop stating your opinion as though it's a fact.

[MIAJamesFan]

If you are a tech person, I don't see how you could be happier with the iPhone over the latest android offerings. Maybe if it was for someone like my mom, who might prefer a simple intuitive interface may like the Apple iPhone better. For better apps and such, I would go with Android.

[Doolie]

If you are a tech person, I don't see how you could be happier with the iPhone over the latest android offerings. Maybe if it was for someone like my mom, who might prefer a simple intuitive interface may like the Apple iPhone better. For better apps and such, I would go with Android.

I know some really techie moms out there. Some even have iPhones.

[ceredon]

If you are a tech person, I don't see how you could be happier with the iPhone over the latest android offerings. Maybe if it was for someone like my mom, who might prefer a simple intuitive interface may like the Apple iPhone better. For better apps and such, I would go with Android.

Different in my experience. The most technical people I know tend to use iOS or BB but not because they are technical. I think it's because they appreciate what a well designed UX is supposed to be. The only android users I know are more wannabe 'techies' that think difficult means better.

Of course we may look at what being a 'tech' person means differently. I work with some pretty bright developers of fairly advanced software. PHD's in comp sci, math and comp eng are not uncommon. I don't know a single one that uses an android phone, though a couple have toyed with android tablets. The android users I know fancy themselves as 'tech' people, which they are. They all work in our tech support dept where a high school diploma is the norm and they all think they are tech wizards. That is the 'tech' person I think you mean.

[rawrr_847]

My wife calls me a phone lemon(her words). So then I call her a lime and together we make a sprite. That ticks her off a bit.

Nice contribution to the topic

[mib1800]

Different in my experience. The most technical people I know tend to use iOS or BB but not because they are technical. I think it's because they appreciate what a well designed UX is supposed to be. The only android users I know are more wannabe 'techies' that think difficult means better.

Of course way look at what being a 'tech' person means differently. I work with some pretty bright developers of fairly advanced software. PHD's in comp sci, math and comp eng are not uncommon. I don't know a single one that uses an android phone, though a couple have toyed with android tablets. The android users I know fancy themselves as 'tech' people, which they are. They all work in our tech support dept where a high school diploma is the norm and they all think they are tech wizards. That is the 'tech' person I think you mean.

I dont think you need to be a techie to find Android appealing. Aesthetic wise, iOS is pretty bland with its icon-based screen and bluish color tone compared to Android's widget-based screen with scrolling live/wallpaper.

Even basic UI/phone stuff is lacking in IOS like widgets, quick switches, motion/gesture control, advance folder, shortcuts, once-touch (picture) dial/sms, ring profile, in-phone call/sms duration tracking, unlimited call log, text reflow in browser, ...there are so many others that I am too lazy to list them all down

Also there are many type of apps (in many application areas) in Play Store that have no equivalent in Apple appstore. Not true vice-versa.

[Aurelian]

I dont think you need to be a techie to find Android appealing. Aesthetic wise, iOS is pretty bland with its icon-based screen and bluish color tone compared to Android's widget-based screen with scrolling live/wallpaper.

Even basic UI/phone stuff is lacking in IOS like widgets, quick switches, motion/gesture control, advance folder, shortcuts, once-touch (picture) dial/sms, ring profile, in-phone call/sms duration tracking, unlimited call log, text reflow in browser, ...there are so many others that I am too lazy to list them all down

Also there are many type of apps (in many application areas) in Play Store that have no equivalent in Apple appstore. Not true vice-versa.

On those feature sets: I wouldn't call as many of those advantages as you do. I've used Samsung's gestures and motion on the GS3... they're gimmicks that don't really accomplish tasks faster. Shortcuts? When your home screen is the app drawer, you don't need a shortcut. And Android's text reflow in the browser actually hurts rather than helps, I think: I'm not a fan of how it 'snaps' in.

There are certainly apps that Android has that iOS doesn't, but that doesn't mean a lot of them are desirable. You can argue on the flip side that iOS has a consistently higher-quality catalog that's more discoverable. There's a large amount of developers (especially game developers like Epic Games, id Software and the like) who actively dodge Android for concerns of hardware support, OS polish and piracy. Android has some fine stuff, but it's still true that developers target iOS first if they can only pick one OS.

[ceredon]

I dont think you need to be a techie to find Android appealing. Aesthetic wise, iOS is pretty bland with its icon-based screen and bluish color tone compared to Android's widget-based screen with scrolling live/wallpaper.

Even basic UI/phone stuff is lacking in IOS like widgets, quick switches, motion/gesture control, advance folder, shortcuts, once-touch (picture) dial/sms, ring profile, in-phone call/sms duration tracking, unlimited call log, text reflow in browser, ...there are so many others that I am too lazy to list them all down

Also there are many type of apps (in many application areas) in Play Store that have no equivalent in Apple appstore. Not true vice-versa.

I think there are mainly three types that will trend towards Android over iOS (very much generalizing here).

1) People that think they are getting an iOS device. This sounds ludicrous but it happens at such a high volume that at one point BestBuy complained to Samsung that far too many people were returning Samsung Android products because they thought they were buying Apple and realized their mistake once they got home. This also points to just how similar Samsung products are to Apple.

2) People on a tighter budget. In the developing world, where Android is growing the fastest, it is the lower end that is gobbling up marketshare. Granted Samsung is doing an amazing job at targeting and succeeding in the highend too, but overall it is the budget devices that are booming. In Europe Android is also booming and outselling the iPhone, yet in the US, Apple still outsells the others. In Europe, the iPhone carries a premium overall cost (retail price + monthly fees) compared to Androids, so it is more affordable to go with an Android. This is entirely at the carriers discretion. This differs from the US, where highend Androids and iPhones carry a similar TCO and thus Apple isn't at a disadvantage on overall price and is outselling other models. Also, worlwide, you will find Androids start to plummet in the price offered on contract within a couple weeks or a month of launch (the GS3 is already available for $130 in Canada after just over a month, a 20% drop). Price is definitely a factor in Androids success even though at retail on contract the highend devices are comparable to iPhones. This price sensitivity is also why Android tablets fail unless priced at loss-leader levels and why aside from Samsung most Androidn vendors are bleeding out.

3) Tinkerers. I don't believe 'tech' people have any affinity to Android over iOS (I actually think the opposite) but I do believe the people that like to tinker with the phones will prefer Android. Some people look at their phones in the same way they do their PCs. They want to tweak and customize and Android allows them to do this. Others look at them as phones, albeit smartphones, but still phones. It is just another appliance, though one with lots of utility. This crowd might pick Android or might pick Apple, but the 'openness' or customizability of the platform does not enter in their decision.

Edit: Thought of a couple others that are also valid.
4) People that are bored of iOS. This is legitimate. Some people want what's new and with the number of devices and models from Android vendors, there is always something different and new.

5) People that like comically large phones. 4" seems good, even 4.5". But once you get into 5" and now closing in on 6" with the Note2 (and I've even read some people excited about the phone capabilities in the upcoming 10" Note) you are well into the realm of the ridiculous. I just don't see how anyone can feel the slightest amount of dignity and hold one of those things to their head. If it takes two hands to use, then it is a tablet.