Anybody thinking of leaving iOS behind...?

[nviz22]

None of them deserve our trust to be honest...

Between slowing phones down to spur upgrades to touch disease and bendgate.....

Phone 6 'bendgate' was real -- and Apple knew about it, according to court docs
https://www.cnet.com/news/court-docs-reveal-apple-knew-about-iphone-6-touch-disease/

Good ole Apple.

 

[mjschabow]

I decided long ago that I wasn't going to let iTunes app purchases tie me indefinitely to iOS. I now own the same paid for apps on both platforms and am free to get whichever new phone I want each year (currently a Note 8). Once again I do not understand this iMessage worship! I use Google messages, Aqua Mail and Whatsapp. My messaging needs are more than adequately covered...

Yeah google has definitely stepped it up where a lot of it comes down to preference. Another thing is environment. My whole family and office uses iPhones, so it makes more sense to use that platform.

 

[mikef07]

I decided long ago that I wasn't going to let iTunes app purchases tie me indefinitely to iOS. I now own the same paid for apps on both platforms and am free to get whichever new phone I want each year (currently a Note 8). Once again I do not understand this iMessage worship! I use Google messages, Aqua Mail and Whatsapp. My messaging needs are more than adequately covered...

Real easy to explain about imessages. While using those other apps is not a big deal with those very close to you (kids, wife, best friends, etc) it becomes much harder when you get pictures/videos from coworkers, parents who aren't technologically sound and don't understand multiple apps for the same thing, or fringe contacts who you don't feel comfortable dictating what app they use when including you. The majority of my contacts fit the latter description than the former.

 

[Michael Goff]

None of them deserve our trust to be honest...

Between slowing phones down to spur upgrades to touch disease and bendgate.....

Phone 6 'bendgate' was real -- and Apple knew about it, according to court docs
https://www.cnet.com/news/court-docs-reveal-apple-knew-about-iphone-6-touch-disease/

Yeah. We all have to decide what’s our priorities. Mine just happens to be “doesn’t help drone facial recognition”. Yours might be “doesn’t knowingly put out a flawed product”.

 

[jamezr]

Yeah. We all have to decide what’s our priorities. Mine just happens to be “doesn’t help drone facial recognition”. Yours might be “doesn’t knowingly put out a flawed product”.

So you don't trust Google? Then what search engine do you use? Do you have an Android phone? Do you have GAPPS installed on that phone?

I guess you're right it means different things to different people. Priories and different levels of mistrust

 

[Michael Goff]

So you don't trust Google? Then what search engine do you use? Do you have an Android phone? Do you have GAPPS installed on that phone?

I guess you're right it means different things to different people. Priories and different levels of mistrust

I don’t trust Google. I use DDG, I stopped using my Pixel 2XL.

 

[tbayrgs]

So you don't trust Google? Then what search engine do you use? Do you have an Android phone? Do you have GAPPS installed on that phone?

I guess you're right it means different things to different people. Priories and different levels of mistrust

This. IMO, all of the big tech companies have serious flaws. For instance (and these are all just my own personal opinions) I’m not a fan of Apple's ecosystem restrictions and pricing strategies—they make more profit than anyone yet still charge exorbitant pricing for most of their products all while often nickel and diming their customers in other areas (i.e. no included usb-c dongle, minuscule free amount of cloud storage). I worry about the overwhelming amount of data I’m allowing Google to have regarding my online existence. Facebook will gladly sell your soul in an instant to get $0.01 of ad revenue. Amazon is slowing taking over the Western markets in nearly every regard—feels like one day you won’t have a choice to buy anything from anyone BUT Amazon. I actually have fewer worries about Microsoft than the other tech behemoths but that might be because I don’t really use any of their products or services anymore.

Point is, none of these companies are without suspicion or fault. We just each have to pick our own poison, so to speak.

 

[spinedoc77]

None of them deserve our trust to be honest...

Between slowing phones down to spur upgrades to touch disease and bendgate.....

Phone 6 'bendgate' was real -- and Apple knew about it, according to court docs
https://www.cnet.com/news/court-docs-reveal-apple-knew-about-iphone-6-touch-disease/

Wait until all those who made such a big deal out of this being fabricated get on here. Man never went to the moon, 9/11 was a hoax, and global warming doesn't exist.
[doublepost=1527287368][/doublepost]

This. IMO, all of the big tech companies have serious flaws. For instance (and these are all just my own personal opinions) I’m not a fan of Apple's ecosystem restrictions and pricing strategies—they make more profit than anyone yet still charge exorbitant pricing for most of their products all while often nickel and diming their customers in other areas (i.e. no included usb-c dongle, minuscule free amount of cloud storage). I worry about the overwhelming amount of data I’m allowing Google to have regarding my online existence. Facebook will gladly sell your soul in an instant to get $0.01 of ad revenue. Amazon is slowing taking over the Western markets in nearly every regard—feels like one day you won’t have a choice to buy anything from anyone BUT Amazon. I actually have fewer worries about Microsoft than the other tech behemoths but that might be because I don’t really use any of their products or services anymore.

Point is, none of these companies are without suspicion or fault. We just each have to pick our own poison, so to speak.

See, I think Google is the one being exorbitant and nickle and diming us. They are making money off our eyeballs, LOTS and LOTS of money, yet we are still paying full price for their flagship phone which is inferior to most other (if not all) flagships. I've personally switched off Google as much as I can, although it's definitely a losing battle. I've found myself using www.startpage.com which seems 95% as good as google, they even have a sort of VPN service where you can click on a search link and it goes through their servers so webpages don't know you are browsing them, at a slight cost to speed.

That's why I appreciate Apple and their privacy stance, how they handle your info and how most of your info stays on your phone encrypted. I could care less about all the personalization services out there, I really see very little that seems useful to me anyhow. I can check my flight times just fine, I can track my packages, I can look at my calendar, etc. I'm not saying these things aren't useful to some (or many), I just think they are a bit overblown in how useful giving up every last shred of your information really is. Yeah you can compliment me on my tin foil hat, but every single day we tune in to a brand new scandal that involves our information being sold, lost or stolen.

 

[jamezr]

This. IMO, all of the big tech companies have serious flaws. For instance (and these are all just my own personal opinions) I’m not a fan of Apple's ecosystem restrictions and pricing strategies—they make more profit than anyone yet still charge exorbitant pricing for most of their products all while often nickel and diming their customers in other areas (i.e. no included usb-c dongle, minuscule free amount of cloud storage). I worry about the overwhelming amount of data I’m allowing Google to have regarding my online existence. Facebook will gladly sell your soul in an instant to get $0.01 of ad revenue. Amazon is slowing taking over the Western markets in nearly every regard—feels like one day you won’t have a choice to buy anything from anyone BUT Amazon. I actually have fewer worries about Microsoft than the other tech behemoths but that might be because I don’t really use any of their products or services anymore.

Point is, none of these companies are without suspicion or fault. We just each have to pick our own poison, so to speak.

I agree with you...... I just use Google products and services because they work so well...... But I don't blindly trust any corporation. I buy Apple products because they are damn good.... I don't have trust in them that they have my best interest at heart. They don't....
[doublepost=1527293864][/doublepost]

Wait until all those who made such a big deal out of this being fabricated get on here. Man never went to the moon, 9/11 was a hoax, and global warming doesn't exist.
[doublepost=1527287368][/doublepost]

See, I think Google is the one being exorbitant and nickle and diming us. They are making money off our eyeballs, LOTS and LOTS of money, yet we are still paying full price for their flagship phone which is inferior to most other (if not all) flagships. I've personally switched off Google as much as I can, although it's definitely a losing battle. I've found myself using www.startpage.com which seems 95% as good as google, they even have a sort of VPN service where you can click on a search link and it goes through their servers so webpages don't know you are browsing them, at a slight cost to speed.

That's why I appreciate Apple and their privacy stance, how they handle your info and how most of your info stays on your phone encrypted. I could care less about all the personalization services out there, I really see very little that seems useful to me anyhow. I can check my flight times just fine, I can track my packages, I can look at my calendar, etc. I'm not saying these things aren't useful to some (or many), I just think they are a bit overblown in how useful giving up every last shred of your information really is. Yeah you can compliment me on my tin foil hat, but every single day we tune in to a brand new scandal that involves our information being sold, lost or stolen.

I agree with you on Google......Apple might have a better privacy stance....but then they will slow your phone down on purpose to get you to upgrade to a new one. Or as the court docs say....release a product with a known defect...then charge you to fix it...

Like I said I don't trust any corporation.

 

[sunking101]

Real easy to explain about imessages. While using those other apps is not a big deal with those very close to you (kids, wife, best friends, etc) it becomes much harder when you get pictures/videos from coworkers, parents who aren't technologically sound and don't understand multiple apps for the same thing, or fringe contacts who you don't feel comfortable dictating what app they use when including you. The majority of my contacts fit the latter description than the former.

I don't dictate to anyone which app they use to contact me. If they contact me using the Apple messages app I will receive their message? My friends & family use a mixture of Android and iPhone and nobody ever runs into any difficulties.

I do understand that this is an American thing but over in the UK we have zero issues using different platforms. Seriously, no issues whatsoever.

 

[cmiller4642]

I'm thinking of leaving Apple in general.

I'm replacing my iPhone X with an S9+ or Pixel 2 XL in August (haven't quite decided yet)

I need a new tablet, and I may just end up getting a Kindle Fire HD 10 (I only use mine for e reading and web browsing)

I need a new laptop and I really was impressed by the Surface Book Pro

I already canceled Apple Music for Spotify

I don't own Beats headphones so that's not an issue

I do have an Apple TV, but I also have a Firestick for *cough* Kodi *cough*

seems pretty simple to just ditch Apple altogether IMO

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I'm thinking of leaving Apple in general.

I'm replacing my iPhone X with an S9+ or Pixel 2 XL in August (haven't quite decided yet)

I need a new tablet, and I may just end up getting a Kindle Fire HD 10 (I only use mine for e reading and web browsing)

I need a new laptop and I really was impressed by the Surface Book Pro

I already canceled Apple Music for Spotify

I don't own Beats headphones so that's not an issue

I do have an Apple TV, but I also have a Firestick for *cough* Kodi *cough*

seems pretty simple to just ditch Apple altogether IMO

I would wait to see if the Note 9 has the in-display FPS. Unless you're trying to get a deal on the S9+.

Spotify is simply the best and most compatible.

I'm still using the original iPad Air on 11.3.1 and it works great. No need for me to upgrade.

I picked this up for $40 on Amazon couple weeks ago, and it's one of the most comfortable headphones I've had with great sound and long battery life. Wireless Headset, TaoTronics Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones with Deep Bass & 25 Hours Playtime Beats is a freaking ripoff.

 

[mikef07]

I don't dictate to anyone which app they use to contact me. If they contact me using the Apple messages app I will receive their message? My friends & family use a mixture of Android and iPhone and nobody ever runs into any difficulties.

I do understand that this is an American thing but over in the UK we have zero issues using different platforms. Seriously, no issues whatsoever.

Very few of my messages that have video or pictures are one on one messages. These are usually group texts than can be as few as 3 people and as many as 6-8. Having to reply back that I can't see the video clearly or that the picture is grainy so I need you to send it using this other app is not something most would (will) do. The high majority of people I know have iphones therefore it is likely only going to be me that would need a different app used.

It was asked why the obsession with imessage. This is why. It is by far the best messaging app by a mile when all parties use it.

 

[mib1800]

It was asked why the obsession with imessage. This is why. It is by far the best messaging app by a mile when all parties use it.

What can imessage do that something like WhatsApp or WeChat can't do?

WhatsApp can do video/voice call and text in the same app. Attaching files is there too. And so is the nice feature of sending live location message.

The only reason why imessage still exist is not because it is a competitive app. It is just because apple forced it down your throat.

Everywhere in the world except US, imessage is a dead app.

 

[cmiller4642]

What can imessage do that something like WhatsApp or WeChat can't do?

WhatsApp can do video/voice call and text in the same app. Attaching files is there too. And so is the nice feature of sending live location message.

The only reason why imessage still exist is not because it is a competitive app. It is just because apple forced it down your throat.

Everywhere in the world except US, imessage is a dead app.

The only advantage iMessage has is that it works on your other Apple products and you get blue to blue text to whoever your texting.

The act of sending messages, pics, and videos from one person to one person or groups is still done on Android systems as well. It doesn't matter to me honestly.

 

[minimo3]

What can imessage do that something like WhatsApp or WeChat can't do?

WhatsApp can do video/voice call and text in the same app. Attaching files is there too. And so is the nice feature of sending live location message.

The only reason why imessage still exist is not because it is a competitive app. It is just because apple forced it down your throat.

Everywhere in the world except US, imessage is a dead app.

For me the biggest drawback of WhatsApp is that it can only be used on 1 device at a time and that it is tied to phone number. I have a backup phone and to switch over you have to go thru a backup on primary, activate on backup device, restore to backup Rigmarole every time. WhatsApp also works poorly on iPads, the web version is just not made for safari. WhatsApp also doesn’t work on the pc unless you have your phone connected so if you’re traveling and just want to fire up your iPad/laptop and send off a message over some free WiFi you can’t. If you have kids/grandparents and you’ve given them a device e.g. phone/tablet/iPod Touch without a phone plan they can use iMessage over WiFi, WhatsApp won’t work. Lastly WhatsApp compresses images so they look all grainy when you save them and try to zoom in.

 

[sunking101]

iMessage is clunky in that it only works to its fullest when the sender and recipient have iPhones. As others have said, if Apple didn't bake it into the o/s then it would have been left behind as a restrictive relic. Ultimately though it's just a messaging app but Apple users bizarrely have it down as some kind of magic. I have used iPhones for longer than I've used Android and I don't miss it one bit. It doesn't stop me doing anything. It doesn't limit me in any way. Nobody berates me for not having it. I hear the loud defence of iMessage but I still don't get it. You're just caught up in habit. You feel trapped by your iMessage habit and joined to Apple for life. I find it really, really bizarre.

 

[dumastudetto]

Google is on its fourth or fifth attempt to replicate the success of iOS messages and I confidently predict they will fail again. Nothing comes close to messages, and never will really. The problem for Google/Android is messaging will always be very important to a lot of people, and that's why so many people will openly admit they miss Messages when they try to switch platforms.

Of course the other problem is OEMs like Samsung don't want to cede the messaging experience to Google. They want to create their own experiences which just adds to the mess on Android. Even if Google does create something great, many Android users will never see it. A massive majority of users will just use the pre-installed messaging apps provided by Samsung et all.

 

[sunking101]

Google is on its fourth or fifth attempt to replicate the success of iOS messages and I confidently predict they will fail again. Nothing comes close to messages, and never will really. The problem for Google/Android is messaging will always be very important to a lot of people, and that's why so many people will openly admit they miss Messages when they try to switch platforms.

Of course the other problem is OEMs like Samsung don't want to cede the messaging experience to Google. They want to create their own experiences which just adds to the mess on Android. Even if Google does create something great, many Android users will never see it. A massive majority of users will just use the pre-installed messaging apps provided by Samsung et all.

If I'm just sending a text message I'll use Google messages or Whatsapp. If I'm sending a photo I'll use Whatsapp or email. If I'm sending a video I'll use Whatsapp. If they don't have Whatsapp then they won't get the video. Nobody is too important to dictate which phone I buy. I'm still scratching my head as to why iMessages is so essential. No explanation ever convinces me. Even when my ex-girlfriend and both my parents had iPhones it made zero difference to any of us that I had an Android. For some reason this is an American issue and I'll never understand it.

 

[cmiller4642]

iMessage is okay I guess, but the advantages that Android has to me go far beyond the text message box having little bubbles when someone with an iPhone is replying to your text.

 

[mikef07]

What can imessage do that something like WhatsApp or WeChat can't do?

WhatsApp can do video/voice call and text in the same app. Attaching files is there too. And so is the nice feature of sending live location message.

The only reason why imessage still exist is not because it is a competitive app. It is just because apple forced it down your throat.

Everywhere in the world except US, imessage is a dead app.

I understand there are other apps that can do that. The reality is though that the high high majority of people (professional adults) with iphones are going to just use imessage. The majority of Android users are going to use the stock messaging app also. Asking someone (or multiple users) or coo workers or fringe friends to switch to whatsapp or wechat is not realistic. Asking your wife and kids probably isn't an issue.
[doublepost=1527513319][/doublepost]

The only advantage iMessage has is that it works on your other Apple products and you get blue to blue text to whoever your texting.

The act of sending messages, pics, and videos from one person to one person or groups is still done on Android systems as well. It doesn't matter to me honestly.

Except videos and pics are downgraded using an android phone.
[doublepost=1527513380][/doublepost]

iMessage is clunky in that it only works to its fullest when the sender and recipient have iPhones. As others have said, if Apple didn't bake it into the o/s then it would have been left behind as a restrictive relic. Ultimately though it's just a messaging app but Apple users bizarrely have it down as some kind of magic. I have used iPhones for longer than I've used Android and I don't miss it one bit. It doesn't stop me doing anything. It doesn't limit me in any way. Nobody berates me for not having it. I hear the loud defence of iMessage but I still don't get it. You're just caught up in habit. You feel trapped by your iMessage habit and joined to Apple for life. I find it really, really bizarre.

Videos and pics downgraded. End of story. Fix that. Until then you have no argument.
[doublepost=1527513436][/doublepost]

If I'm just sending a text message I'll use Google messages or Whatsapp. If I'm sending a photo I'll use Whatsapp or email. If I'm sending a video I'll use Whatsapp. If they don't have Whatsapp then they won't get the video. Nobody is too important to dictate which phone I buy. I'm still scratching my head as to why iMessages is so essential. No explanation ever convinces me. Even when my ex-girlfriend and both my parents had iPhones it made zero difference to any of us that I had an Android. For some reason this is an American issue and I'll never understand it.

Once again video and pics downgraded. You not caring does not mean the masses do not care.
[doublepost=1527513483][/doublepost]

iMessage is okay I guess, but the advantages that Android has to me go far beyond the text message box having little bubbles when someone with an iPhone is replying to your text.

If it was only that then you would be right. You could not be more wrong.

 

[cmiller4642]

I understand there are other apps that can do that. The reality is though that the high high majority of people (professional adults) with iphones are going to just use imessage. The majority of Android users are going to use the stock messaging app also. Asking someone (or multiple users) or coo workers or fringe friends to switch to whatsapp or wechat is not realistic. Asking your wife and kids probably isn't an issue.
[doublepost=1527513319][/doublepost]

Except videos and pics are downgraded using an android phone.
[doublepost=1527513380][/doublepost]
Videos and pics downgraded. End of story. Fix that. Until then you have no argument.
[doublepost=1527513436][/doublepost]
Once again video and pics downgraded. You not caring does not mean the masses do not care.
[doublepost=1527513483][/doublepost]
If it was only that then you would be right. You could not be more wrong.

So yea the messaging app is better.

98% of the features on Android are better than the features on iOS.

iOS advantages:

iMessage
Continuity between devices

Android advantages:

Live screen widgets
Multitasking is much smoother
Ability to set default 3rd party applications
Ability to customize phone to your specifications outside of changing the Wallpaper
Fast charger included in the box
Devices are cheaper
Always on display

I could go on and on but text messaging is just one of 1000 things

 

[mikef07]

So yea the messaging app is better.

98% of the features on Android are better than the features on iOS.

iOS advantages:

iMessage
Continuity between devices

Android advantages:

Live screen widgets
Multitasking is much smoother
Ability to set default 3rd party applications
Ability to customize phone to your specifications outside of changing the Wallpaper
Fast charger included in the box
Devices are cheaper
Always on display

I could go on and on but text messaging is just one of 1000 things

Again it was asked what the obsession with imessage was. I showed it. You are trying to argue different points which I have no desire to do. I uses none of the things that you listed for Android nor do I care to.

I tried the S7 Edge. It was awful about 1-2 months in. Never again.

 

[cmiller4642]

Again it was asked what the obsession with imessage was. I showed it. You are trying to argue different points which I have no desire to do. I uses none of the things that you listed for Android nor do I care to.

I tried the S7 Edge. It was awful about 1-2 months in. Never again.

You wouldn't want your phone to charge 3x faster right out of the box or pay less money for a flagship device?

 

[Jmacman78]

I've gone back and forth with iOS and Android. Each time I end up coming back to iOS. However every time I'm finding less and less reasons to come back.

All the things that have made Apple great seem to be going away little by little with each coming year.