General Android, just wow.

[onthecouchagain]

The keyboard on iOS is fine IMO and quite accurate, but it's annoying when it takes weeks to learn slang words or acronyms.

Swiftkey learns in one tap; much better.

Ah, I guess we type differently. I always had missed keys which led to horrible auto corrections. I still experience it constantly on my iPad 3rd gen. And yes, iOS dictionary gives zero flexibility. I remember having to wipe the dictionary every now and then to undo typos that it learned.

The iOS keyboard also gave birth to the "Damn You iPhone Auto Correction" phenom too. It could definitely use some updating.

Not to mention, the competition is running away with their keyboards. Stock Android keyboard just added gesture-typing functionality. And apparently, it's very good.

Swiftkey > all, though, for sure.

 

[SprSynJn]

Yes - the 'xx wants to use your location' is fair enough, also AFAIK you can deny it and still run the app.

Android apps, however, typically ask for a laundry list of permissions before you install them - take it or leave it. For example, Bad Piggies - a big name game - asks for:

1. Your Location (approximate network-based location)
2. Network communication (full network access)
3. Storage (modify or delete the contents of your USB storage)
4. Phone Calls (read phone status and identity)
5. System Tools (prevent phone from sleeping)
6. Network communication (Google Play billing service, view network connections, view WiFi connections)
7. Development Tools (test access to protected storage)

There is no way that a non-technical user can make an informed judgement about that lot, especially 3 (why does a game need those? Surely it gets its own sandboxed storage area?) and 7 (nothing that requires this should make it into an App store, at least outside the 'developer' category). As for 6, with a decent security design, all it should need access to is the in-App-purchase API which should have it's own safeguards (such as always requiring user confirmation or asking for a PIN).

If a these are all legitimately needed for a game (even with in-game purchasing) then there is something wrong with the security model. If not, the game shouldn't make it into the store.

As I said - this model might make sense when you're a consenting sideloader, but it should be redundant on an App store.

I was always wondering what the purpose of those permissions were. I know it makes some people feel better knowing what it is they are getting themselves into, but wouldn't it just be better to leave it up to the company? Apple seems to think so anyway, and I agree.

 

[throAU]

Why is broken?

Because history (past 30+ years of computing) has shown that allowing end users to run un-signed code from anywhere is a recipe for disaster.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Because history (past 30+ years of computing) has shown that allowing end users to run un-signed code from anywhere is a recipe for disaster.

The past 4 years of Android prove differ. Then there was WM which was pretty popular and catching on mainstream for at least a 4 year period before the iPhone. No major outbreaks or even close to.

 

[throAU]

The past 4 years of Android prove differ. Then there was WM which was pretty popular and catching on mainstream for at least a 4 year period before the iPhone. No major outbreaks or even close to.

Yet.

Look, if it works for you, great. But i've been in this industry for 20 years now and attacks are becoming ever more sophisticated. Just because an outbreak hasn't happened yet, does not mean it isn't a time bomb just waiting to happen.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

allowing end users to run un-signed code from anywhere

Android phones by default don't allow sideloading and even if you enable this feature, Android doesn't allow the installation of unsigned software.

----------

3. Storage (modify or delete the contents of your USB storage)


There is no way that a non-technical user can make an informed judgement about that lot, especially 3 (why does a game need those? ...)

How about to create a save file or download the game data files like textures etc...


----------

Yet.

Look, if it works for you, great. But i've been in this industry for 20 years now

Let me guess, Windows Sysadmin/projects?

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Yet.

Look, if it works for you, great. But i've been in this industry for 20 years now and attacks are becoming ever more sophisticated. Just because an outbreak hasn't happened yet, does not mean it isn't a time bomb just waiting to happen.

I'm not that young either, 34yrs. The malware and viruses people carelessly install on their Windows PCs, the mobile world has been pretty safe in comparison. Even OSX users get fooled into installing malware toolbars and apps when installing the intentional app.

Your right, the attacks are becoming more sophisticated. But realize the user/tech community is much more proactive and outspoken nowadays. It's not easy to slip something into the mainstream anymore, and when something does slip by, it gets outed very quickly before it reaches the masses. Also it's much harder for a virus to spread via mobile to mobile(near impossible) compared to PC to PC.

Most attackers are amateurs that just use pre written code for their own gain, like stealing identity, info, and passwords. Then you have those who get paid by shaddy companies. The real malicious hackers are after the bigger picture.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

The keyboard on iOS is fine IMO and quite accurate, but it's annoying when it takes weeks to learn slang words or acronyms.

Swiftkey learns in one tap; much better.

it may be fine but compared to the alternatives out there it is pretty much crap. It used to have a leg up on the stock android keyboard but in Android 4.2 that is over. Android keyboard for the most part blow iOS completely out of the water.

 

[onthecouchagain]

Android keyboard for the most part blow iOS completely out of the water.

I agree. Ever since ICS, it blew the iOS keyboard out of the water. It had a few odd glitches though, but that's since been ironed out.

Gesture typing is quite awesome too.

 

[matttye]

it may be fine but compared to the alternatives out there it is pretty much crap. It used to have a leg up on the stock android keyboard but in Android 4.2 that is over. Android keyboard for the most part blow iOS completely out of the water.

I agree, kinda. I don't think the iOS keyboard is bad, but I do think it could be improved upon, and I think the Android stock and swiftkey keyboards are much better. The S3 default keyboard was horrendous.

 

[theluggage]

How about to create a save file or download the game data files like textures etc...

This permission is about "USB Storage" rather than storage in general: You can plug memory sticks into Android devices with a suitable adaptor - and I guess the reason this permission exists is that FAT devices have nonexistent access control. Is the MicroSD card slot in my phone actually connected using internal USB? Quite plausible, but damned if I know!

The point is regular users will not have a clue whether or not they should grant these permissions, and will end up just clicking through. Google should vet this at the store submission stage and not bother users heads with it unless they choose to root their phone or sideload.

In a well-designed, modern OS, the vast majority of Apps should run without any special privileges, and the OS itself should ensure that potentially malicious, expensive or privacy-violating operations can't happen without user interaction.

 

[paulsalter]

I am more than happy with the way android handles permissions that apps are allowed

If it ever moves over to the full sandboxing system that ios uses, then I will get rid of android

 

[Oletros]

This permission is about "USB Storage" rather than storage in general: You can plug memory sticks into Android devices with a suitable adaptor - and I guess the reason this permission exists is that FAT devices have nonexistent access control. Is the MicroSD card slot in my phone actually connected using internal USB? Quite plausible, but damned if I know!

The permission is WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and applieas to any external storage

http://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission.html

 

[SprSynJn]

I am more than happy with the way android handles permissions that apps are allowed

If it ever moves over to the full sandboxing system that ios uses, then I will get rid of android

Why? And where would you go?

 

[Tinmania]

But you do have this option, although its been introduced in iOS 6, a little late, it's still there and working fine

Except it would not work fine for what he explained. Do Not Disturb's idea of a schedule is every single day. He doesn't work 7 days a week.




Mike

 

[jsw]

Except it would not work fine for what he explained. Do Not Disturb's idea of a schedule is every single day. He doesn't work 7 days a week.

Exactly.

If one could use something built into iOS, like, oh, the Calendar, to schedule DND time, that would be great. Or even use the options in Clock's alarms.

It's really a bad design, and I'm surprised they didn't think of the fact that DND times might vary.

 

[paulsalter]

Why? And where would you go?

I will stick with my desktop that has a full file system

For me I do not want documents (or any files) that an application creates to be stored within the app, I want full access to them via any app I choose

 

[Rodimus Prime]

This permission is about "USB Storage" rather than storage in general: You can plug memory sticks into Android devices with a suitable adaptor - and I guess the reason this permission exists is that FAT devices have nonexistent access control. Is the MicroSD card slot in my phone actually connected using internal USB? Quite plausible, but damned if I know!

No that has to do with writing and reading from the SD card. Btw the internal memory is considered sd card so to write/read outside of your apps own private folder requires that permission.

Now if you get an app from the google play store they explain it better for the normal people. You are reading it from a developer site which means they more for developer line of thinking so not as easy to understand for norms.

 

[theluggage]

The permission is WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and applieas to any external storage

http://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission.html

So why does my phone say "modify or delete the contents of your USB storage"?

You are reading it from a developer site which means they more for developer line of thinking so not as easy to understand for norms.

No, I'm reading it from the "App Info" panel in the Applications Manager on my phone, which I'm pretty sure is the exact same text that shows up when you install from Google Play. (Look at the message - "your USB storage" is clearly someones idea of user-friendly language.)

 

[Oletros]

So why does my phone say "modify or delete the contents of your USB storage"?

Because anything apart of the internal app memory is external storage

This is what it says in the Play Store permission tab:

STORAGE
MODIFY/DELETE USB STORAGE CONTENTS MODIFY/DELETE SD CARD CONTENTS
Allows the app to write to the USB storage. Allows the app to write to the SD card.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/...iggies&feature=nav_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDNd

 

[Rodimus Prime]

So why does my phone say "modify or delete the contents of your USB storage"?




No, I'm reading it from the "App Info" panel in the Applications Manager on my phone, which I'm pretty sure is the exact same text that shows up when you install from Google Play. (Look at the message - "your USB storage" is clearly someones idea of user-friendly language.)

View attachment 377671

Nope in google play click on it and they give a much better way or explaining more in detail on how it works.

you are seeing much shorter and more from the dev permission set up. It more of a limitation of how the permission is set up.

But when you install the app they explain what each one is and a hell of a lot better.

 

[Cod3rror]

iOS is still much better. Android lacks polish, it does not have effects like bounce-back. It's a small animation but it has a huge effect on the UI, makes it feel much more responsive. Android's edge glow is not good.

Android does not have a centralized audio controls and does not play background audio. If a developer codes a background playing capability it can do that, but it does not have a centralized and standardized api to make it very easy for the devs. And as mentioned it does not have centralized audio controls, which are so, so handy. You can control your music player from the Notification Center, but you cannot control, say, a backgrounded YouTube video. With iOS you can.

iOS has much better and higher quality third party apps, they are more polished and look better too.

Here are couple of examples that I prefer on iOS.

Soulver - Android has no equivalent, awesome calculator.
Notes - Android does not have a simple notes app. iOS' app also syncs/backs up to Yahoo.
Music - iOS' music app is just leaps and bounds better than anything Android has to offer.
GPS - Third party GPS apps are much better on iOS.
Photos - The default app is much better, cleaner without any extra nonsense effects. Also displays pictures on the map.
Tunebox - Dropbox music streamer, couldn't find anything like this for Android.
PhotoSync - Nothing like this on Android. Awesome app.
PinDrop - Again, nothing like this on Android.
SongExporter - Again, nothing like this on Android.
Instacast - None of Android's podcast apps come close.
OPlayer - An awesome video player. DivX, XviD, MKV, etc... plays them all. Also, you can play videos from your SAMBA(Windows) share over the network... i.e. Share a folder with movies from you Windows machine, connected with your iPhone and stream movies. Haven't found a player on Android that does that.
SuperList - There is Mighty Grocery List on Android but it's just not as good.
Converter+ - Awesome converter.
Skype - On iOS it is better.



Android and Android apps feel like such an ax job, they just reek of low quality. I might have ignored it all had Android had centralized audio controls and a background audio, that kills Android option for me.

What Android has is customization... which I do not care about. I love how iOS looks. And this a matter of opinion but customization is a waste of time, you get a phone, customize, customize, modify... then a new version comes out, customize, customize, modify... I want to do things with the device, not waste time on customizing it and making it look acceptable.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

iOS is still much better. Android lacks polish, it does not have effects like bounce-back. It's a small animation but it has a huge effect on the UI, makes it feel much more responsive. Android's edge glow is not good.

Android does not have a centralized audio controls and does not play background audio. If a developer codes a background playing capability it can do that, but it does not have a centralized and standardized api to make it very easy for the devs. And as mentioned it does not have centralized audio controls, which are so, so handy. You can control your music player from the Notification Center, but you cannot control, say, a backgrounded YouTube video. With iOS you can.

iOS has much better and higher quality third party apps, they are more polished and look better too.

Here are couple of examples that I prefer on iOS.

Soulver - Android has no equivalent, awesome calculator.
Notes - Android does not have a simple notes app. iOS' app also syncs/backs up to Yahoo.
Music - iOS' music app is just leaps and bounds better than anything Android has to offer.
GPS - Third party GPS apps are much better on iOS.
Photos - The default app is much better, cleaner without any extra nonsense effects. Also displays pictures on the map.
Tunebox - Dropbox music streamer, couldn't find anything like this for Android.
PhotoSync - Nothing like this on Android. Awesome app.
PinDrop - Again, nothing like this on Android.
SongExporter - Again, nothing like this on Android.
Instacast - None of Android's podcast apps come close.
OPlayer - An awesome video player. DivX, XviD, MKV, etc... plays them all. Also, you can play videos from your SAMBA(Windows) share over the network... i.e. Share a folder with movies from you Windows machine, connected with your iPhone and stream movies. Haven't found a player on Android that does that.
SuperList - There is Mighty Grocery List on Android but it's just not as good.
Converter+ - Awesome converter.
Skype - On iOS it is better.



Android and Android apps feel like such an ax job, they just reek of low quality. I might have ignored it all had Android had centralized audio controls and a background audio, that kills Android option for me.

What Android has is customization... which I do not care about. I love how iOS looks. And this a matter of opinion but customization is a waste of time, you get a phone, customize, customize, modify... then a new version comes out, customize, customize, modify... I want to do things with the device, not waste time on customizing it and making it look acceptable.

How's maps? lol

 

[jim.bright17]

No, but remembering to flip it back off silent can be a problem.

I was able to set timed profiles on Nokia phones in the 1990s. The fact I can't on my iPhone remains a sore point. I work roughly the same hours every weekday. I am supposed to keep my phone on silent at work. It would be really great to not have to remember twice a day, five days a week, to flip the switch. Most days, I remember, but I'm embarrassed at work when I don't remember in the morning, and I miss calls in the evening if I forget to switch back.

There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to not have this capability in iOS. None.

You can schedule the "Do not disturb" setting. Mine is set from 12-6 every night.

 

[Tinmania]

You can schedule the "Do not disturb" setting. Mine is set from 12-6 every night.

Yes but gawd forbid you maybe want to sleep in on the weekends. Can't do that.

That feature will debut in iOS 7. Maybe.



Michael

----------

iOS is still much better. Android lacks polish, it does not have effects like bounce-back. It's a small animation but it has a huge effect on the UI, makes it feel much more responsive. Android's edge glow is not good.

Android does not have a centralized audio controls and does not play background audio. If a developer codes a background playing capability it can do that, but it does not have a centralized and standardized api to make it very easy for the devs. And as mentioned it does not have centralized audio controls, which are so, so handy. You can control your music player from the Notification Center, but you cannot control, say, a backgrounded YouTube video. With iOS you can.

iOS has much better and higher quality third party apps, they are more polished and look better too.

Here are couple of examples that I prefer on iOS.

Soulver - Android has no equivalent, awesome calculator.
Notes - Android does not have a simple notes app. iOS' app also syncs/backs up to Yahoo.
Music - iOS' music app is just leaps and bounds better than anything Android has to offer.
GPS - Third party GPS apps are much better on iOS.

A calculator was your first thought? Seriously? Ahem.

Then Notes? I'd much rather use Evernote than the brain-dead Notes app, thank you very much. Syncs everywhere. (Loved the 2007'ish "syncs back up to Yahoo" by the way.)

But applauding the iTunes-or-the-highway music app really takes the cake.

Oh wait, selectively forgetting the iOS 6 maps disaster and jumping right to third-party... now THAT takes the cake.

Pull up your pants, dude. It's too late to save your shoes.




Michael