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7 months with Android (Nexus 6P)..now back to iOS
- Thread starter petvas
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I completely agree with you. Unless you use only a couple of widgets that are at the top of the notification centre, it's too much effort.
They've gotten better but don't have the level of live interactivity that is capable on Android. I also live the implementation on iOS 9--use them for quick snapshots of info but also to interact (get 2-factor authentication codes from Authy, quick calculations using PCalc, and my favorite--use Launcher to navigate directly to apps or specific functions). Having all of this available no matter where I am in the OS makes it my preferred implementation.
All that being said, I'm quite worried that this will all soon be ancient history as the first beta of iOS no longer has the Today pane in the pulldown panel, meaning widgets are only accessible to the left of the lock screen or left of the first home screen. IMO, this change turns iOS' widgets implementation from great to terrible as they'd be less accessible than even those in Android. If Apple doesn't put the Today panel back in the pulldown shade before the final release, I likely won't be upgrading past iOS 9 and may take a long hard look at staying on iOS as this change severely impacts my workflow.
My workflow regarding iOS widgets is pretty much the same. I prefer how easy it is to get an authentication code from Authy's iOS widget no matter where I am, but if they are indeed breaking this functionality in iOS 10, that's one less iOS advantage for me. I'm already rather disappointed with the Siri API not extending to audio apps, so still no Overcast support to Siri while Google Now works perfectly fine with Pocket Casts. If iOS 10 makes the widgets actually worse and Nougat delivers the goods, I might switch once again, maybe this time for good.
Over one billion Android users and counting. Nearly 80% global marketshare. Over 60% lead over iOS. Alphabet Inc (Google's parent company) being the most valuable company in the world which also doesn't just depends its business mainly on mobile devices which is saturated as is. Typical complaints about apps, premium build, fragmentation, lag, etc. It is okay for Android has another iOS switcheroo here in this forum. Google and Android have enough users already.
The customization is an advantage and a disadvantage.
I'm on the side of disadvantage - getting updates, security and features - trumps having each vendor decide what updates to push out and when.
Maybe the greatest bane of android and no hope of changing unless...
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That's up to each vendor to do.
If their phones don't impress enough to buy, it's hardly the buyers fault.
To specify it isn't so much choice as it was bottom barrel prices
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Hence why android usually looks a mess when you see it in most home screens. Its full of clutter.
Exactly. Don't forget if you claim it lags and has issues you obviously don't know how android works. /S
Over one billion Android users and counting. Nearly 80% global marketshare. Over 60% lead over iOS. Alphabet Inc (Google's parent company) being the most valuable company in the world which also doesn't just depends its business mainly on mobile devices which is saturated as is. Typical complaints about apps, premium build, fragmentation, lag, etc. It is okay for Android has another iOS switcheroo here in this forum. Google and Android have enough users already.
Lmao this is pure fanboyism.
Google makes no profit on android. Or very little. Its profit comes from search and using its customer data for profit. I'll take the company who is less concerned with making money off my privacy and more so about making money off the products I choose to buy from them.
On the contrary, my home screens look very organized and streamlined. The functionality of being able to see so much information at a glance is priceless.
Which company would that be? You found a company that isn't going to control you and force you into overpaying for services and products? That won't use your data for profit? By all means tell us who that would be.
Nope, it was lack of availability. The iPhone 4S was the first model not exclusive to AT&T. Also, it took awhile after that before the iPhone became available to smaller carriers, especially those that specialized in pre-paid plans.
Android phones cheap and expensive was available everywhere. Those that were able to afford contract plans from the big carriers, were also able to afford the iPhone at subsidized prices. And many flagship Android phones were going for the same subsidized price on a contract. Consumers made a choice.
By your logic, there shouldn't even be room for Android flagships since everyone is choosing Android based on price.
Hence why the Android home screen thread is always so much more creative and amazing than the iPhone honescreen thread. Because users have the freedom to create a messy, artistic, mind blowing, productive, or all the above type of homescreen, at the same time.
So messy
There are legit Android gripes but home screens that can be anything is not one of them.
How very Us centric of you. Yes the android market is doninanted by the lower end hardware. even with amazing flagship choices. Yes the galaxy s line is the most popular android phone to date. They still don't sell the bulk of android devices.
Having worked for a carrier for over a year we sold many of the flagships but then its like people who buy the older iPhones. At the end of the day, the average consumer wants the cost effective phone. Something apple can not compete with. Similarly to windows phone when it was growing. It was being chosen over various android phones due to its lower price ooint. of course android has negated that.
Android being available globally where apple was not has been the key to its success. very true but android also being the cheaper option is precisely why its successful.
OMG you worked a cell phone store..well that raises your opinion above everyone else's opinion
Please tell us all the things you learned at your store
I agree. Hence why I prefer Live tiles and in my opinion are a bit less cluttered and busy compared to multiple pages of homescreens full of widgets.
It's well known that Google makes its money off of us and our data. It's primary business is search for goodness sakes.
It's a homescreen....not a mural on the side of an underground bridge in San Francisco where we can marvel at that hipster who is a troubled painter who captures the angst of the world and plight of the oppressed.
What's hilarious is the fact you call it artistic. Then art is subjective to the individual. So you can't say an Android is better because you can do a lot more with your homescreen as a fact because for many individuals it is irrelevant.
Hell, for many individuals, most people don't even go beyond changing the wallpaper and lockscreen on their phone in the first place. I cant tell you how many times I laughed to myself seeing the default app widgets on people's homescreens lol. Some didn't even bother to change the wallpaper.
these are the same ones who gladly use the ringtones that come with the phones and use the phone AS IS from out the box because the average user likely couldn't care less that android is open. They just want it to work.
So you quoted me from a post where I quote an individual mention his was PACKED with widgets to show me a homescreen with 4 icons and an ugly wallpaper?
you are a bright individual I see.
You seem triggered. I never said my opinion was above anyone else. Unlike many of you android fanatics, I am able to express my own opinion and for the most part not sound like an arrogant individual because I can listen and respect your OPINION. What's hilarious is that you individuals speak your opinions on android as a blanket fact.OMG you worked a cell phone store..well that raises your opinion above everyone else's opinion
Please tell us all the things you learned at your store
But please continue to be condescending
It's refreshing and I need the laugh at work.
I agree. Hence why I prefer Live tiles and in my opinion are a bit less cluttered and busy compared to multiple pages of homescreens full of widgets.
It's well known that Google makes its money off of us and our data. It's primary business is search for goodness sakes.
It's a homescreen....not a mural on the side of an underground bridge in San Francisco where we can marvel at that hipster who is a troubled painter who captures the angst of the world and plight of the oppressed.
What's hilarious is the fact you call it artistic. Then art is subjective to the individual. So you can't say an Android is better because you can do a lot more with your homescreen as a fact because for many individuals it is irrelevant.
Hell, for many individuals, most people don't even go beyond changing the wallpaper and lockscreen on their phone in the first place. I cant tell you how many times I laughed to myself seeing the default app widgets on people's homescreens lol. Some didn't even bother to change the wallpaper.
these are the same ones who gladly use the ringtones that come with the phones and use the phone AS IS from out the box because the average user likely couldn't care less that android is open. They just want it to work.
So you quoted me from a post where I quote an individual mention his was PACKED with widgets to show me a homescreen with 4 icons and an ugly wallpaper?
you are a bright individual I see.
You seem triggered. I never said my opinion was above anyone else. Unlike many of you android fanatics, I am able to express my own opinion and for the most part not sound like an arrogant individual because I can listen and respect your OPINION. What's hilarious is that you individuals speak your opinions on android as a blanket fact.
But please continue to be condescending
It's refreshing and I need the laugh at work.
I will continue to be condescending thank you for your permission..
I'm hardly hardly an Android fanatic I don't think there is company I have less respect for than Google and that's saying a lot because there are few I'd not like to see put out of business
Well we do seem to agree. I dislike Google immensely and would love to see put of business or at least knocked down quite a few pegs.
Live Tiles from windows? I like Live Tiles and I'm a Microsoft guy, but they seem to provide even less info than iOS widgets, but I'm not that familiar with them. Live Tiles *seem* more organized because they are square, uniform in color, font, etc., but they really don't provide all the information I would need and still necessitate opening the app much more often than on Android. On Android widgets don't really follow any format and I do think they are a bit jarring if you have them all laid out such as I do, but certainly not disorganized or cluttered. But Android widgets free me from apps to some degree, for example I don't have to open my mail app, I can simply scroll up and down in the widget to see what mail I have, what's new, and can even respond, mark as read/unread, delete, etc., that's all without opening the app or even leaving my homepage. Other widgets are a bit more unique in function, but very powerful. I have a widget which displays a live feed of my daughter so I can check on her when she's sleeping, pretty amazing IMO.
So at a SINGLE glance on my first home screen I can check my daughter sleeping, have all my oneNote's available and listed, check my calendar, check google news and weather. On my 2nd homepage I can at a SINGLE glance check all my emails, check all my Google Voice alerts/messages, and check my text messages. I also still have room for a dozen or so app icons if I wanted them there. Additionally with Nova Launcher I can put more icons on the dock, and have multiple docks. I can also have caller widgets, one touch to call someone. There is just so much I could keep going on and on.
If iOS had such functionality in their widgets I would be very excited. I kind of like how they have a single widgets page which scrolls down. Reducing my dependence on the horrible UI of iOS would be a huge plus. I'm hoping Apple keeps adding to widget functionality like this.
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If it wasn't for competition we wouldn't have such awesome technology. I shudder to think what iphones would be like if they had no competition.
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Not the best screenshots as I had to cross out some personal info. I do think Google should be more restrictive with widget styles so they have some uniformity with fonts, colors, etc. But then again that freedom is a good thing so I'm mixed on that. But the sheer amount of information at a single glance is just amazing and not replicated on any other platform. Keep in mind I can scroll up and down in most of those widgets, and interact with them, reply, delete, etc. without opening the app. Most days I just live in those 2 homescreens and rarely even open an app. That's just the tip of the iceberg, there are thousands and thousands of widgets ready to replicate whatever functionality you desire.
I understand it in your case. that is quite useful but to me that is dreadfully clutter and visually unappealing.
I prefer live tiles because Windows 10 mobile has always been the balance between IOS and android. Taking good aspects of both and making its own. I shudder at IOS going android like with widgets on the main screens.
I love competition. I just find far better companies than google and far better OS than android
It sure wasn't just a homescreen when you were complaing about it. Oh it's too cluttered, ugly, etc. Why is it only just a homescreen now?
We are mainly just discussing opinion though, and nothing else. I like windows mobile, I wish Google would put some of their apps on there, I'd be happy with just google voice. I'm still holding out hope for a surface phone next year.
Same business plan as all companies have......Get as much data as you can to present advertisements specific to their customer base. ALL companies do this. The search company behind Siri does the same thing. Your web browsing right now is tracked by cookies and then reported back and forth. Then ads specific to sites you visited pop up in your browser.
So don't use Google then..........
Good post, I use iPhone exclusively, but it's nice to see a post that gives light to both systems. I can agree with you that Android is a powerful mobile OS, but like you, it's not polished enough for me to enjoy it. (From my experience with helping my users with their Android devices)