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zbarvian

macrumors 68010
Jul 23, 2011
2,004
2
So based on your inexact measurements, an average of 35 or so milliseconds of difference in touch response trumps everything Android has to offer over iOS for you. It's not a question, just want to put it there for some perspective. I just can't help but feel that these differences are minor (much like other often touted advantages that iOS has over Android, e.g. app selection).

I think I can live with 35 millisecond difference in my life to gain the advantages I posted here: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/16195195/

That's just me, of course.


1 millisecond would be nuts. We'll talk again in 10 years about this, I guess. Heh.

It's huge to the experience. I've been using responsive Apple products for the majority of my tech life, and I couldn't imagine going to something with noticeably more latency. It would never be the sole reason, but it's definitely one of them.
 

iEnvy

macrumors 65816
Jun 25, 2010
1,224
336
DFW
I would love to test out the Nexus 4 for a while, but I don't think I could give up my 5.

There are too may opinions on what provides a better experience. Even reading this thread, its nearly 50/50.

From what I could at least comprehend after reading so many different opinions, I think people are just waiting for iOS to bring some new **** to the table and a better UI. Real geeks cannot deny that Jelly Bean does in fact look pretty good compared to iOS.

In light of recent news, maybe iOS is going to get the change we need, not the one we deserve. :p
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
I would love to test out the Nexus 4 for a while, but I don't think I could give up my 5.

There are too may opinions on what provides a better experience. Even reading this thread, its nearly 50/50.

From what I could at least comprehend after reading so many different opinions, I think people are just waiting for iOS to bring some new **** to the table and a better UI. Real geeks cannot deny that Jelly Bean does in fact look pretty good compared to iOS.

In light of recent news, maybe iOS is going to get the change we need, not the one we deserve. :p


A recent NY Times article seems to indicate that the changes to iOS will primarily be aesthetics. Hopefully with Ive at the helm, it'll be more than that, but I can't see too serious of an overhaul. Wouldn't want to disrupt or rock the boat too much for the giant base they have now whom are very comfortable with iOS.

I hope it's more than just replacing the faux-leather look.
 

hot spare

macrumors 6502
Aug 22, 2011
340
66
Good point.

Any luck finding the numbers of the input difference? I can't find any.

EDIT: This is all I could find from Google's developer website:

To ensure a consistent framerate, Android 4.1 extends vsync timing across all drawing and animation done by the Android framework. Everything runs in lockstep against a 16 millisecond vsync heartbeat — application rendering, touch events, screen composition, and display refresh — so frames don’t get ahead or behind.

Not even sure what any of that means or how that compares to iOS.

EDIT2: Found this regarding iPhone 5's touch response:

Display response time

iPhone 5: average 23 milliseconds

http://iphone-myspace.blogspot.com/2012/09/compared-to-apple-iphone-5-display.html

So... is higher better? Shouldn't lower response time be better? Or do those measurements having nothing to do with touch response time?

If you are talking of input lag, then nothing comes even near to OLED. OLED (or AMOLED) is said to have a response time of few times less than any LCD display. Theoretically OLED displays can have 0.01ms response.
 

iEnvy

macrumors 65816
Jun 25, 2010
1,224
336
DFW
A recent NY Times article seems to indicate that the changes to iOS will primarily be aesthetics. Hopefully with Ive at the helm, it'll be more than that, but I can't see too serious of an overhaul. Wouldn't want to disrupt or rock the boat too much for the giant base they have now whom are very comfortable with iOS.

I hope it's more than just replacing the faux-leather look.

I want an OS that I can feel connected to. Over the years, iOS just seems there. It gets the job done but I don't feel that "connection".

I think the best example in my case would be texting. Android has swype(I believe its called) that makes texting seem so streamlined and smooth, while with iOS, we've pretty much had the same bland experience with the idiotic autocorrect.

If you're an Android user, I love to hear your input on this. I've been considering jumping the fence.
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
I want an OS that I can feel connected to. Over the years, iOS just seems there. It gets the job done but I don't feel that "connection".

I think the best example in my case would be texting. Android has swype(I believe its called) that makes texting seem so streamlined and smooth, while with iOS, we've pretty much had the same bland experience with the idiotic autocorrect.

If you're an Android user, I love to hear your input on this. I've been considering jumping the fence.

It's actually very interesting you bring up the keyboard, as that's one of the biggest factors in me jumping ship. I couldn't stand iOS' keyboard. It was amazing back in the 3GS days, but for whatever reason, when it came to the 4S, something went awry. It constantly missed key presses which led to typos which led to Apple's infamous auto corrections. I email and text a lot and sometimes take notes on the go on my phone. The typing experience got so bad that it simply became a deal breaker.

When I switched over to Android, not only was the stock Android keyboard better, but the alternatives blew everything out of the water. Swype was very very cool and handy. I loved it. Then I discovered hands down the best keyboard of all time: SwiftKey. The smart predictions are great and when it works, it can complete full sentences for you from beginning to finish (still blows my mind) but that's usually the exception more than the norm. When it does happen, though, it's a beautiful thing. However, the best thing about SwiftKey is its auto correction. I don't know what it is in the programming or algorithm, but it just knows exactly what you meant to type, and 99% of the time will auto correct to the exact word you wanted. The typing experience on Android is not just a minor improvement over iPhone's, it's an ocean of a difference. This is without mentioning customizable dictionary (I had to wipe my iOS keyboard's dictionary every now and then to get rid of saved typos--utterly stupid to not give the user control over this), and customizable long press times for secondary symbols, customizable keyboard layouts, skins, etc. I could go on and on.

I definitely get what you mean about feeling connected. That's the beauty of Android and its freedom of choice and customization. It isn't just about aesthetics. Customizing what lock screen shows when you wake your device, what information is on your home screen, what keyboard you want to use, what browser launches when you click a link, etc... all go a long way into making the device 100% catered to you and your needs, not just in looks, but in usability.

It makes the device uniquely yours.
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
Thank you for your well thought out opinion:)

Just one thing I have to point out... you make me want to switch even more now :eek: Going to anticipate those Nexus 4 reviews now

Reviews will have to be very good for people to believe in the unlocked method.
 

thenaes

macrumors member
Nov 20, 2011
55
0
I'm definitely thinking of jumping ship too but am not sure which phone I want. I would probably be on AT&T... so either the GS3 or HTC One X(+). I'm just very interested in Android in general now. Seems to me like everything ICS and beyond has been pretty cool.

I do wish the Nexus 4 would be available on carriers, but I do understand why they had to do that because they would never be given full reign over them like Apple does.
 

dojoman

macrumors 68000
Apr 8, 2010
1,936
1,094
What innovations? Wireless charging? Face unlock? pfff. All I see is cheap device with no LTE.
 

TheHateMachine

macrumors 6502a
Sep 18, 2012
846
1,354
The nexus4 doesn't have the build quality and premium feel of the iPhone. And android also doesn't have as much games as the iPhone.

Other than that yes it destroys the iphone5 and its unbelievable value

While I agree most Android devices are made of cheap plastics (Save Motorola who make solid feeling high end devices clad in rubberized metals and other good materials). Have you felt the Nexus 4 or seen the reviews of its build quality? Everyone said it is a solid phone with plenty of care put into its design and quality. Two glass panels with a Rubberized band between them. From what everyone seems to be saying it is a high end kit.
 

Stuntman06

macrumors 6502a
Sep 19, 2011
961
5
Metro Vancouver, B.C, Canada
It's huge to the experience. I've been using responsive Apple products for the majority of my tech life, and I couldn't imagine going to something with noticeably more latency. It would never be the sole reason, but it's definitely one of them.

Over a year ago, I compared an Android device side-by-side with an iOS device. It was my HTC Desire Z and my father-in-law's iPhone 4. I definitely noticed that scrolling was smother on the iPhone 4. Now, my SGS3 has closed the gap and it is only running ICS. My friend's Galaxy Nexus had JB and was a bit smoother.

If you are used to the iPhones, that extra bit of latency may be a turn off. I've gone the other way with smoother and smoother devices from a Nokia N97 to my SGS3, so any latency you may notice certainly doesn't bother me. The extra smoothness of the iPhone would not be enough to make me want an iPhone considering I would have to give up a lot more for what seems to me to be a very minor improvement.

I want an OS that I can feel connected to. Over the years, iOS just seems there. It gets the job done but I don't feel that "connection".

I think the best example in my case would be texting. Android has swype(I believe its called) that makes texting seem so streamlined and smooth, while with iOS, we've pretty much had the same bland experience with the idiotic autocorrect.

If you're an Android user, I love to hear your input on this. I've been considering jumping the fence.

I use an alternate keyboard for my phone. I personally like Thumb Keyboard over the Swype keyboards. I personally do not like auto-correct or text prediction. I find that it bothers me when I type something (usually an acronym I make up on the fly) with prediction and the phone is totally wrong on what it thinks I mean to type. It is expecially bothersome with Swype.

There are a number of alternate keyboards available for Android. Thumb even has different keyboard layout to choose from. I choose a split keyboard in landscape mode because I have such a large phone (SGS3). It makes reaching letters in the middle of the keyboard easier. Also, for the portrait keyboard, I use the split/stacked keyboard. The left-side keys are above the right side keys so that each individual key is wider. I have trouble with portrait keyboards because they are so narrow. There are several different landscape and portrait layout available to choose from. You can also scale them to be smaller and sometimes higher.

=====

On another note, I don't think that iOS is necessarily significantly less buggy than Android. From my experience, some iOS devices do slow down over time and have issues such as crashing, just like Android devices. iOS doesn't always just work just like Android.

One significant difference between iOS and Android is how each OS handles a crash of some sort. When an iOS app crashes or force closes, iOS does its best to hide the fact that there was a problem with the app. You just go back to the home screen just as if you pressed the home key. It makes some users think that it is the user who did something wrong and that it wasn't a problem with the app.

Android on the other hand will actually display a message saying that there was a problem with the app. Then the user gets the opportunity to add more information on what happened prior to the app crashing. The user can then send this information as well as other system info to the developer, so that the developer has some information to perhaps update the app to fix the issue.
 

viskon

macrumors 6502
Oct 20, 2012
464
10
One complaint I have had with Apple has been their attitude to Adobe Flash. The technical reason, or so I have read, is that Flash is a memory hog.

If that is true, a customer-centric response, IMO, would have been for Apple to increase RAM memory in Apples devices so that customers could enjoy a rich web experience . Instead, there was an anti-Flash campaign that painted Flash as a bad guy and Apple got away with it.

I have used Adobe Flash extensively in my Android devices. Never had any issues. Sorry to see mobile Flash die.
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
The question of "what innovation?" would be more aptly asked of iOS 6.

And I know it's too early to even predict but according to today's ny times article the "overhaul" of iOS under the helm of Ive may focus primarily on aesthetics. Wouldn't be surprised if they didn't want to shake up ios too much. Doesn't sound good for those looking for some major changes. I'm still excited to see what they do though with ios 7.
 
Last edited:

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
What innovations? Wireless charging? Face unlock? pfff. All I see is cheap device with no LTE.

This is a VERY good point. Thank you for pointing it out.

The 4S doesn't have any of those features (wireless charging, face unlock) OR LTE! But is still a lot more expensive!

iPhone 4S 16gb = $549.00
Nexus 4 16gb = $349.00

I enjoy my 4S but this thing is old school tech by today's standards. Unsubsidized is an absolute ripped off and I pity the person that pays it.
 

zbarvian

macrumors 68010
Jul 23, 2011
2,004
2
This is a VERY good point. Thank you for pointing it out.

The 4S doesn't have any of those features (wireless charging, face unlock) OR LTE! But is still a lot more expensive!

iPhone 4S 16gb = $549.00
Nexus 4 16gb = $349.00

I enjoy my 4S but this thing is old school tech by today's standards. Unsubsidized is an absolute ripped off and I pity the person that pays it.

It's not a rip-off. Apple is profiting from sales, Google isn't.
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
This is a VERY good point. Thank you for pointing it out.

The 4S doesn't have any of those features (wireless charging, face unlock) OR LTE! But is still a lot more expensive!

iPhone 4S 16gb = $549.00
Nexus 4 16gb = $349.00

I enjoy my 4S but this thing is old school tech by today's standards. Unsubsidized is an absolute ripped off and I pity the person that pays it.


Up until the day before October 13th (or whenever the iPhone 5 was released) that 4S was $649.

And you know what? It'll be $549 until the day the 5S is available, despite changes in production cost. Come the day before October 13, 2013 -- theoretical day the 5S is released -- that two+ year old 4S will still be $549.

Think about it, people.
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
It's not a rip-off. Apple is profiting from sales, Google isn't.

Yes it is a rip off. Less then 100 more gets you the same storage size iPad 3 with LTE. Hahah

You would have to be in utter and complete denial to think:

3.5" to 9.8" retina
3G to LTE
512 ram to 1 gb ram
A5 to A5X
SGX543MP2 to SGX543MP4

Is only 80 bucks. Or without LTE is 50 cheaper then the outdated 4S!

It's no secret that apple has a 50% profit margin which is in fact a rip off for a Chinese assembled electronic device. This is all apple products, not just the iPhone. 550 is just too much for last years model in the tech world. Just like the massive price difference in ANYTHING tech, TV's, processors, ram, etc etc. Last years tech is inexpensive and this years isn't.

Btw. I don't know how much google is or isn't making. I'm just saying Apples hardware price is way too high. MAYBE if the 4S was 450 (400 would be better) then I could understand them wanting to profit. But 549? No way...
 

ChrisTX

macrumors 68030
Dec 30, 2009
2,686
54
Texas
iOS has become stale, and this is coming from someone who has been using Macs since the early 2k's. Firing Scott Forstall was the second best thing they could have done behind firing John Browett.
 

onthecouchagain

macrumors 604
Mar 29, 2011
7,382
2
iOS has become stale, and this is coming from someone who has been using Macs since the early 2k's. Firing Scott Forstall was the second best thing they could have done behind firing John Browett.


By all early indications, the changes Ive will bring to iOS are mainly aesthetics. Not sure if that'll be enough. Of course, no one knows for sure what will end up being what.

I'm excited, but cautiously optimistic. And in the mean time... Android is sailing away and ahead.
 

ReanimationN

macrumors 6502a
Sep 7, 2011
724
0
Australia
Good point.

Any luck finding the numbers of the input difference? I can't find any.

EDIT: This is all I could find from Google's developer website:

To ensure a consistent framerate, Android 4.1 extends vsync timing across all drawing and animation done by the Android framework. Everything runs in lockstep against a 16 millisecond vsync heartbeat — application rendering, touch events, screen composition, and display refresh — so frames don’t get ahead or behind.

Not even sure what any of that means or how that compares to iOS.

EDIT2: Found this regarding iPhone 5's touch response:

Display response time

iPhone 5: average 23 milliseconds

http://iphone-myspace.blogspot.com/2012/09/compared-to-apple-iphone-5-display.html

So... is higher better? Shouldn't lower response time be better? Or do those measurements having nothing to do with touch response time?

There is no way in this world that 16 millisecond figure you quoted translates into real world use (if that's what it means, I'm not sure either). If I can see the screen lagging behind my finger, it's much more than a 16 millisecond lag.

That's pretty awesome if what your second link says is true, that Nokia phones running WP8 have an even better response time than iPhones- MS sound like they've done a good job with WP8. Pity they took so long to get them out the door.
 

ChrisTX

macrumors 68030
Dec 30, 2009
2,686
54
Texas
By all early indications, the changes Ive will bring to iOS are mainly aesthetics. Not sure if that'll be enough. Of course, no one knows for sure what will end up being what.

I'm excited, but cautiously optimistic. And in the mean time... Android is sailing away and ahead.

As much as I hate it too, I spend the better half of the last 5 or so years defending the iPhone against Android, and rightfully so. But with the latest iPhone 5, and even iOS6 it just seems like more of the same. On the iOS 6 front, it's certainly been a bit of a headache for me on my iPad with intermittent wifi connectivity, though that has suddenly changed all of the sudden. Android is offering something uniquely different, and a lot of iPhone users such as myself wanted something radically different, and it just wan't there with the iPhone 5. I hope that Ive, and the rest of the team can breathe new life into the iOS ecosystem.
 

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,156
There is no way in this world that 16 millisecond figure you quoted translates into real world use (if that's what it means, I'm not sure either). If I can see the screen lagging behind my finger, it's much more than a 16 millisecond lag.

That's pretty awesome if what your second link says is true, that Nokia phones running WP8 have an even better response time than iPhones- MS sound like they've done a good job with WP8. Pity they took so long to get them out the door.

Responsiveness and the screen lagging behind your finger are probably too different things. I feel like screen size makes a big difference too, my 4S feels a lot more responsive then my iPad 3 and my now sold iPad 2 did. Mostly because and like you said I can see the screen behind my finger movement more....not due to hardware but the gap is more noticeable on a larger screen.

I noticed this on my now sold OG Razr and my still current Xoom....

I can notice a difference between Android and iOS but I could not possibly consider that to be a deal breaker. And I'm using an old Xoom (tegra 2) with ICS (4.0.4). So I'm sure I'll find the difference even less noticeable on a more powerful device running 4.1+.
 
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