Android: convince me!

[nickdalzell1]

Why doesn't the Kindle app I installed in 2018 even open on my iPhone 4, or the purchased list in the App Store on my iPod touch no longer give me 'last compatible versions' of the Walmart or Kroger apps I had installed on it a year ago (only deleting at the time to save storage)? I thought the 'last compatible version' thing was still, well, a thing.

Doesn't matter since I've long moved on to Android who doesn't care what version of whatever app I run. Apple wants to promote endless, infinite, earth-raping consumerism, which I'm no longer a part of.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

When people talk about privacy, what is it you are specifically worried about? I have touch ID installed to get into my most private apps, not to mention to unlock the phone, but other than that, there isn't really anything of personal info I put on the phone. I guess I just know the risks of using the phone and accept the risks. That's basically like life in General isn't it? You choose to do things and accept the risks that come with it. If you are worried so much about what those risks entail, you might as well just stay home under the bed all day. I guess I don't understand the privacy issue when it comes to the phone. When it comes to the computer I think its a little more important, but other people aren't going to be using my computer.

In terms of Android, I switched last year to Android and there are pros and cons. I like how much more customizable Android is. Also, as a Podcast fan, I think Android has better Podcast apps than IOS does (I think Podcast addict is better than Overcast). However, as a Music fan I miss IOS and just what you can do with Music, specifically Marvis Pro, which was probably the best app I used on IOS. I also miss how integrated it is with the Apple TV, but I still have an Ipad and Mac so it isn't too bad. Also, I think Car Play might be better than Android Auto, as I have had some issues with AA, specifically Google Assistant and it's integration with Apple Music.

 

[nickdalzell1]

I think arguing in favor of privacy in the era of credit card use, internet use, and so on is kinda impossible unless you want to go live Amish style. You can curb tracking only so much, and only use the internet without leaving a trace so much, but tons of things break. You can't use plugins to watch internet video in incognito mode, for example. You cannot login to MacRumors without enabling cookies and/or Javascript.

Heck, just having a street address and social security number is enough to blow any chance of real privacy away. Someone somewhere in Government x is gonna find you if you're doing something they don't like. As they said in the Andy Griffith Show, 'you can't keep a secret in Mayberry!' same applies to the modern world.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I think arguing in favor of privacy in the era of credit card use, internet use, and so on is kinda impossible unless you want to go live Amish style. You can curb tracking only so much, and only use the internet without leaving a trace so much, but tons of things break. You can't use plugins to watch internet video in incognito mode, for example. You cannot login to MacRumors without enabling cookies and/or Javascript.

Heck, just having a street address and social security number is enough to blow any chance of real privacy away. Someone somewhere in Government x is gonna find you if you're doing something they don't like. As they said in the Andy Griffith Show, 'you can't keep a secret in Mayberry!' same applies to the modern world.

Quite true! Many think Apple is looking out for your privacy when they are dealing with 3rd party App developers who are looking to do the opposite. If you are connected to the internet, then expect to give up privacy. Heck even the Police can trace your cellphone for GPS data, seeing where you've been.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Even in the Motorola StarTAC era, they could track your location pretty well with mere cell tower triangulation. In the AMPS Analog phone era, people could hear your phone conversations and voicemail systems with a mere police scanner in the 900MHz range.

 

[orionquest]

I think arguing in favor of privacy in the era of credit card use, internet use, and so on is kinda impossible unless you want to go live Amish style. You can curb tracking only so much, and only use the internet without leaving a trace so much, but tons of things break. You can't use plugins to watch internet video in incognito mode, for example. You cannot login to MacRumors without enabling cookies and/or Javascript.

Heck, just having a street address and social security number is enough to blow any chance of real privacy away. Someone somewhere in Government x is gonna find you if you're doing something they don't like. As they said in the Andy Griffith Show, 'you can't keep a secret in Mayberry!' same applies to the modern world.

Yup Apple's "Privacy" is just lipservice and marketing to make you feel better about it. They still track and collect data on you, even in an abstract way.

 

[ian87w]

When people talk about privacy, what is it you are specifically worried about? I have touch ID installed to get into my most private apps, not to mention to unlock the phone, but other than that, there isn't really anything of personal info I put on the phone. I guess I just know the risks of using the phone and accept the risks. That's basically like life in General isn't it? You choose to do things and accept the risks that come with it. If you are worried so much about what those risks entail, you might as well just stay home under the bed all day. I guess I don't understand the privacy issue when it comes to the phone. When it comes to the computer I think its a little more important, but other people aren't going to be using my computer.

It's not about what you know or control, it's what you don't know and/or cannot control, which is the 3rd party developers. iOS exposes less data to 3rd party apps compared to Android (where 3rd party apps can pretty much siphons anything off the phone). So you are basically putting your trust on those developers to not do naughty things. Considering more and more apps are basically outsourced to development houses/farms in countries like China/India/Russia/etc, you just never know. Saw a nifty game? It's highly likely that it was outsourced to China for the programming. So it boils down to your own comfort level.

I use Android as my primary driver due to its abilities and features that I just cannot get on iOS. However, at the same time, I put my banking apps on my iPhone, just because I've seen the amount of data that can be pulled from Android from the other side. Google's more lax control of the Play Store is not helping either.

It's probably a losing game (worse if iOS is being forced to allow sideloading). My government is already skipping the Google Play store for some of its apps, telling the citizens to sideload them instead. You'll never know what kind of data those apps are collecting.

 

[DrCC]

I put my banking apps on my iPhone, just because I've seen the amount of data that can be pulled from Android from the other side. Google's more lax control of the Play Store is not helping either.

Good call.
I didn't mention it here, but before switching to Apple, every once in a while my credit card got hacked. I was using a Windows device and a Pixel 4 for everything. Every few months random purchases would start happening from the US even though I haven't been to the States lately because of COVID. Each time I would call my bank and they couldn't figure it out how it is happening. My Windows device was secure and on the Pixel I was using Google Pay + the banking apps; the actual credit was never handed over to any vendor so cloning it was out of the question.
I have been using macOS and iOS for 6 months and so far I haven't had a hacking incident. I am still monitoring and trying to understand how and why my credit card info was leaking out every few months.

One thing that got my attention regarding iOS vs Android: iOS informs me if an app wants access to track my activity (Facebook for example): and I have the option to deny tracking. On Android I would not get such notifications so I am assuming that any app that wants to track is free to track by default.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Good call.
I didn't mention it here, but before switching to Apple, every once in a while my credit card got hacked. I was using a Windows device and a Pixel 4 for everything. Every few months random purchases would start happening from the US even though I haven't been to the States lately because of COVID. Each time I would call my bank and they couldn't figure it out how it is happening. My Windows device was secure and on the Pixel I was using Google Pay + the banking apps; the actual credit was never handed over to any vendor so cloning it was out of the question.
I have been using macOS and iOS for 6 months and so far I haven't had a hacking incident. I am still monitoring and trying to understand how and why my credit card info was leaking out every few months.

One thing that got my attention regarding iOS vs Android: iOS informs me if an app wants access to track my activity (Facebook for example): and I have the option to deny tracking. On Android I would not get such notifications so I am assuming that any app that wants to track is free to track by default.

That's odd because I have never owned an iPhone and I have used Android phones exclusively and I have never been hacked. I have a CC assigned to Walmart Pay, my Best Buy app has a CC assigned to it and my Amazon account has two CC assigned to it. To this day I have never had a problem.

 

[Vegastouch]

Good call.
I didn't mention it here, but before switching to Apple, every once in a while my credit card got hacked. I was using a Windows device and a Pixel 4 for everything. Every few months random purchases would start happening from the US even though I haven't been to the States lately because of COVID. Each time I would call my bank and they couldn't figure it out how it is happening. My Windows device was secure and on the Pixel I was using Google Pay + the banking apps; the actual credit was never handed over to any vendor so cloning it was out of the question.
I have been using macOS and iOS for 6 months and so far I haven't had a hacking incident. I am still monitoring and trying to understand how and why my credit card info was leaking out every few months.

One thing that got my attention regarding iOS vs Android: iOS informs me if an app wants access to track my activity (Facebook for example): and I have the option to deny tracking. On Android I would not get such notifications so I am assuming that any app that wants to track is free to track by default.

I have a 4a and never been hacked. Not with any of my Android phones but I don't use Google pay. Never have.
I use my actual card at places and online it's only stored on Amazon and eBay , my car payment for Capital one and Cable service and use my finger print sensor for those apps.

 

[mi7chy]

I didn't mention it here, but before switching to Apple, every once in a while my credit card got hacked.

Weakest link in the security chain is the user and social engineering. iPhone isn't immune from critical vulnerabilities either. For a while it's been vulnerable to Pegasus which is a zero click remote exploit using iMessage as attack vector that gains complete control of the device. Now, there's a new vulnerability that allows malware to survive powered off iPhone.

 

[sjsharksfan12]

While I've only been on Android for like 7 months, I've never had issues with my credit cards or Google Pay. I also check that stuff every day to make sure things are still good and there are no fraudulent charges.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I have no idea why we are talking about some random hack of a credit card where the OP or bank has no idea how it happened or if it was a PC or Mobile issue or bank and there is obvious other points of time or expiry or change of cards, address etc etc that could account for no recent activity and zip to do with now using macOS and iOS

I would be changing my cards or bank before implying it was an OS

 

[nickdalzell1]

Heck, I'm using an 11 year old smartphone, four 10 year old tablets, use walmart Pay on an 8 year old tablet running Android 7, and typing this post on a 10 year old laptop running a very out of date Linux distro on it. I haven't been hacked, either.

Be smart, use common sense, don't use 'password' or '12345' for a password, and be aware of phishing scams, don't go to porn or sketchy sites, and don't download 'Butterfly on your Desktop' or 'Bonzi Buddy' and you'll be fine.

 

[macfacts]

On Android/ Google, you are the product. Everything you do on the phone is sent to Google, analyzed, profiled and used by Google and by other 3rd parties. Google knows you better than you know yourself. The same thing goes for countless apps that work on Android, the privacy is loosy woosy and heavy tracking and profiling is also done by 3rd party apps. You don't pay with your money for Android, you pay by willingly giving away all your digital life to Google and 3rd parties.

Whenever someone goes on about "online privacy" I think about some native Indians not wanting to have ppl take pictures of them because they're afraid of their souls being stolen. I don't care if google is able to sell my soul to some company that is willing to pay for it.

 

[nickdalzell1]

There's zero privacy offline. If you got a credit card, bank account, heck even a social security # you've already sold your soul.

 

[Heindijs]

I’ve been an Android user for many years, and even used Windows Phone when that was still relevant but I honestly couldn’t give you any reason to use it over iOS. I also can’t give any reason to use iOS over Android. I have never had an iPhone.
Simple fact is that I just want my phone to make calls and send text messages (mostly over WhatsApp) so for me it doesn’t matter what phone I use.
Using it for navigation and music is a plus but that‘s possible on any phone nowadays. I’ve been using the same Moto C Plus for 5 years now after my Lumia 535 got destroyed and I see no reason for me to change phones.

It all just comes down to what you want to use your phone for. No one else cares what OS or phone you use.
We’re all adults here

 

[jimimac71]

I have ordered a Nokia T20 tablet. I don't have or want a smartphone. I may sell my iPad back to Apple. I cannot tell anyone why they should have a specific device. Many here concentrate on the phone versus the tablet.
I can say my experience with Amazon tablets is not good. I cannot recommend the tablets or Fire TV Sticks. Not just the OS, but the build quality of the products I have purchased. I hope the Nokia experience will be better than Samsung. I had a bad experience with Lenovo but it worked out and I returned the product.
I don't like being tied to Amazon, Apple, Samsung or anyone else. Maybe the Nokia will have a basic version of Android. It ships with 11 and I really hope to get 12L. My Samsung is EOL for updates (2019).
I know some don't care about updates and that's fine. I do and Android is pretty bad at it.
Apple is much better, but you have to play by their rules. I don't have music on my iPad, because I have no music in iTunes for Windows. I keep all my photos with Amazon. Copying photos to the iPad is like making love to a porcupine.
Samsung forced me into 2-step verification to create an account. I hate that!

 

[nickdalzell1]

For me I just try to stick to what I'm comfortable with. I would enjoy iOS today but unfortunately since iOS 7 I've hated it. I can't get an iPhone 3GS used anywhere. Not that I'd want to since 3G is not gonna be around for much longer so I'd have that looming over me.

So my only options are older Android phones, say, like my HTC Thunderbolt. It cannot get updates, and apps then didn't pull the asinine 'you must update this app to continue using it' model then, and I only use my phone for calls, SMS, MMS, photos, notes, calculator, viewing PDF documents, weather, and music, possibly navigation. All of those things work fine on it, and will continue working fine short of LTE one day EOLing. No Google account, nothing.

So to meet my needs, using apps I'm accustomed to, and having a skeuo UI, that's my only option. In a way, it's better since I keep features many modern phones take away such as the smaller display, expandable storage, USB mass storage support, removable battery and headphone jack, as well as using the very same versions of apps I've known and loved since 2010. On a phone from around that time. It is a time capsule of good memories and times I intend on continuing, while I make money insteaad of spending it on a phone with a half dozen cameras I'll never use, and with less features, while being too small to replace a tablet, but too large to use as a phone, and with a UI that constantly frustrates me.

So that's why I use Android, and why needlessly frustrate myself when I can just use what I like? I'm not here to impress others, or prove anything or tell others what to use. I'd appreciate it if others didn't outright feel threatened by my choice and I do wish they'd stop telling me to 'get with the times' or 'stop living in the past' or 'why do you use that old phone?' I don't tell them what they should use. You should always use what you like. Use whatever device checks all your boxes, and don't let anyone else influence you.

As the old J.G. Wentworth ad used to say, "It's your money, use it when you need it!"

 

[Vegastouch]

This forum has gone from pretty busy with fast answers to things to very slow. Bummer.

 

[Hkfan45]

That iOS 16 update is atrocious. Essentially 15.7. Was hoping for AOD and better automation tools. Nope.

 

[nfl46]

That iOS 16 update is atrocious. Essentially 15.7. Was hoping for AOD and better automation tools. Nope.

And, Android 13 is nothing more than Android 12.2.

 

[nickdalzell1]

Updates are overrated and unnecessary. I stopped believing in them a long time ago. It literally hurts and triggers me to even look at a so-called 'modern' UI. I have a Windows 7 machine at work playing muzak and keeping notes on (not connected to the internet) and I can enjoy looking at it, and it makes sense. Go to the other work PC that we have to look up parts on, which runs Windows 10, and all that flat UI just feels so soulless and bland. I don't know how people stand it. Same goes for lifeless, 'modern' versions of Android or iOS.

You can take your homogenized UI, with every app looking exactly the same if that's what you like. I'm out of the whole schtick.

 

[ian87w]

And, Android 13 is nothing more than Android 12.2.

Agree. Just look at the keynotes, since version 11, Android's major "feature" is theming and colors. That's like digging the bottom of the barrel just to "show off new features."

 

[Vegastouch]

And, Android 13 is nothing more than Android 12.2.

Android 13 is out? Haven't heard that. I prdfer app updates as I never really notice much difference in OS updates anymore.