Do you plan to switch from iPhone to Android? (2016)

[epicrayban]

Interesting, I didn't know that. I can actually appreciate that. One of the primary reasons I'm with Apple and not Google is I value my privacy and information and feel that Apple and Google are on complete opposites of the spectrum. Apple has shown a desire to protect my information and they make far more money on hardware and apps than they do selling my information. Google, on the other hand, makes its money primarily from obtaining and selling my information, and hasn't (at least not publicly like Apple) demonstrated it will fight to protect my information. It's scary stuff like the Waze app is supposed to soon monitor my driving and sell that information that really frightens me and makes me realize just how deep Google is in my information.

I'm pretty positive Google doesn't sell your information. That's a misconception. They certainly use it, but not by selling it. If you look it up, you can find more info. I forgot exactly how it works. Having said that, I absolutely stand with Apple and privacy. I was happy they resisted the FBI last year.

What's interesting to consider, though, is how their models will work for Google and Apple respectively in the coming years as AI becomes a thing. I find my information rather safe with Google.

But back to our mini topic, I also get random requests for my passcode long before 8 hours are up, weird.

Same here.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Nope. There is no noticeable rhyme or reason to it. All I did just now was unplugged it from my charger and tried to unlock it. I've unplugged before and unlocked fine with Touch ID. Prior to charging it just now, I was using it like normal. Nothing updated or changed to require additional security.

Other times it happens, similar scenario. Just using my phone as I normally would.

I would understand the passcode requirement if I had just rebooted or if there was a software update. That's what Android does, too, after a reboot.

In that case this isn't normal. It's not a fault of the software design, this is obviously a fault I would seek a solution to with Apple as I've not encountered this.

 

[epicrayban]

In that case this isn't normal. It's not a fault of the software design, this is obviously a fault I would seek a solution to with Apple as I've not encountered this.

I've had this issue with past iPhones with Touch ID, too. The App Store does the same thing.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I've had this issue with past iPhones with Touch ID, too. The App Store does the same thing.

I've not encountered it myself, so can't advise further.

 

[tbayrgs]

Interesting, I didn't know that. I can actually appreciate that. One of the primary reasons I'm with Apple and not Google is I value my privacy and information and feel that Apple and Google are on complete opposites of the spectrum. Apple has shown a desire to protect my information and they make far more money on hardware and apps than they do selling my information. Google, on the other hand, makes its money primarily from obtaining and selling my information, and hasn't (at least not publicly like Apple) demonstrated it will fight to protect my information. It's scary stuff like the Waze app is supposed to soon monitor my driving and sell that information that really frightens me and makes me realize just how deep Google is in my information.

But back to our mini topic, I also get random requests for my passcode long before 8 hours are up, weird.

Yeah, I haven't tracked it specifically but it sure feels like I've been required to use my passcode prior to eight hours of inactivity. It doesn't happen often at all though--sadly shows I get less than 8 hours of sleep most nights and/or I'm on my damn phone far too much.

And I completely understand feeling torn about security and specifically in regards to Google. I have faith that Google goes above and beyond to protect my data from unauthorized prying eyes as data is their business and if they couldn't be trusted to secure it, their business model disintegrates. But like you, I have concerns about where my data eventually ends up. I also love the synergies amongst all the Google services I use...thus my personal dilemma.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I don't think it's 8 hours as I'm sure some nights mine goes over that without a compulsory passcode. I haven't had to input one for a couple of months at least. Maybe it's 9 or 10?

 

[tbayrgs]

I've had this issue with past iPhones with Touch ID, too. The App Store does the same thing.

The App Store and manually entry of Apple ID credentials irritates the **** out me the most. Awhile back in a different thread I discussed a persistent issue where my son's iPad required him to manually input his Apple ID password at least 2-3 times in succession when requesting to get an app. He'd have to do it prior to my approval, then often 2 more times after I approved it. And all of this was with the setting to authenticate using his fingerprint turned on. I brought it up with Apple in store and over the phone and they never were able to identify the problem. Simultaneously, I was forced to manually approve via password my all of my kid's app requests--never gave me the option to use TouchID--on my iPhone yet I could use TouchID on the same iPhone for my personal app purchase. On my iPad, I could use TouchID for both. Setting on both devices were identical. Apple's solution? None, because they couldn't identify the cause of the problem. I even went through multiple erase/restore instances on all of these affected devices to no avail.

What's weirder? The fact that at some point later the behavior corrected itself with no intervention on my part whatsoever.

 

[spinedoc77]

I'm pretty positive Google doesn't sell your information. That's a misconception. They certainly use it, but not by selling it. If you look it up, you can find more info. I forgot exactly how it works. Having said that, I absolutely stand with Apple and privacy. I was happy they resisted the FBI last year.

What's interesting to consider, though, is how their models will work for Google and Apple respectively in the coming years as AI becomes a thing. I find my information rather safe with Google.



Same here.

No I don't believe they sell your information such as name and things like that, but they do sell your habits from what I understand. And those habits are tied to some kind of persona which can and is tracked. So in the example I stated, how Waze will soon track your driving habits, I don't believe Waze or Google will sell your personal information, but based on your habits it will enable companies paying Google to be able to serve you up relevant ads. Those ads, due to their relevance, have a higher chance of being effective.

With that said I completely understand I'm a dinosaur and it seems like eventually we will all have to give up our information. That's not even talking about having backdoors in place for LE, which is another matter entirely, but one in which Apple inspires much more confidence. Even though I'm a dinosaur, I'd like to keep my habits and such to myself for just a little longer. One day it's not a big deal, then another day ISP's suddenly gain the ability to lawfully use and sell information and no longer protect you. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...-new-rule-that-protects-your-data-from-theft/

 

[epicrayban]

No I don't believe they sell your information such as name and things like that, but they do sell your habits from what I understand. And those habits are tied to some kind of persona which can and is tracked. So in the example I stated, how Waze will soon track your driving habits, I don't believe Waze or Google will sell your personal information, but based on your habits it will enable companies paying Google to be able to serve you up relevant ads. Those ads, due to their relevance, have a higher chance of being effective.

With that said I completely understand I'm a dinosaur and it seems like eventually we will all have to give up our information. That's not even talking about having backdoors in place for LE, which is another matter entirely, but one in which Apple inspires much more confidence. Even though I'm a dinosaur, I'd like to keep my habits and such to myself for just a little longer. One day it's not a big deal, then another day ISP's suddenly gain the ability to lawfully use and sell information and no longer protect you. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...-new-rule-that-protects-your-data-from-theft/

Well said. I'm with you. I think most people are.

 

[epicrayban]

If you're considering Android, Samsung claims they will commit to monthly security updates, just like the Pixel. If you don't know your Android, monthly security updates are the important updates.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sams...-for-unlocked-smartphones-in-the-U.S._id91968
Samsung shifts to monthly security updates schedule for unlocked smartphones in the U.S.


We'll see if they can keep this promise, but it's a great start to the S8. The unlocked S8 recently passed FCC.

 

[Radon87000]

And this is the third time...you asked for a third party app that supports peek and pop and I provided one.

You don't like the feature or want to attempt to poke holes in it don't use it. I like it and it use it frequently.

--> Says he uses peek and pop in browsing and photos
--> I ask for a third party app which does this
--> says WhatsApp uses peek and pop

And it's not that I don't like this feature but the problem is that it's so irrelevant in the OS I forget to use it.

 

[I7guy]

--> Says he uses peek and pop in browsing and photos
--> I ask for a third party app which does this
--> says WhatsApp uses peek and pop

And it's not that I don't like this feature but the problem is that it's so irrelevant in the OS I forget to use it.

It's not an apple issue app developer doesn't support a feature you want. Leave some feedback on the app store. Long press wouldn't be any different if an app developer didn't code for a specific action.

We all view different features differently. My use case is different from yours and I find 3dt extremely helpful in making my interaction with the iphone faster.

 

[nviz22]

The switch to Android again worked out in my favor so far. My current S7 will not cost me much out of pocket. I am primed to get the S8 on a promo trade in event if good enough to be worth the upgrade. If not, I will wait for the Note 8.

 

[epicrayban]

The switch to Android again worked out in my favor so far. My current S7 will not cost me much out of pocket. I am primed to get the S8 on a promo trade in event if good enough to be worth the upgrade. If not, I will wait for the Note 8.

I'm really looking forward to the promos myself, but the prospects of an unlocked S8 has gotten more enticing now that Samsung is promising monthly security updates:

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sams...-for-unlocked-smartphones-in-the-U.S._id91968
Samsung shifts to monthly security updates schedule for unlocked smartphones in the U.S.


Having said that, picking up the S7 is still a wonderful option. I myself wouldn't rule it out. If the S8 somehow fails to impress or if there's some deal-breaking problem (unfair price hike? Are battery issues buttoned up now?), then I would happily go back to an S7/Edge at the discounted price.

 

[Oohara]

I sincerely hope I'm not but after the disappointments of the past couple of years, I've finally learned to set my expectations at absolute zero. Every year we hope Apple opens things up on iOS and every year, with every new iteration, we see nothing of the sort. Not wasting my hope on Apple until they can show me something that indicates a change of course, so to speak.

Yeah, same here. I was about to go into writing a long thing about the potential of the function bar and my hopes for what it could actually be, but actually why bother? Better to just expect nothing and hope for nothing at this point.

Unused potential - that's the thought that won't stop haunting me as I use my 7 Plus. It's a powerful and well built machine, it thinks fast and feels solid and well built in the hand. But all too often it just seems so backwards to use, so convoluted on one hand and over-simplified on the other hand, for no reason.

Will things change dramatically in September? Experience says no. Better to just stop hoping or expecting, and perhaps be pleasantly surprised instead.

 

[Radon87000]

Yeah, same here. I was about to go into writing a long thing about the potential of the function bar and my hopes for what it could actually be, but actually why bother? Better to just expect nothing and hope for nothing at this point.

Unused potential - that's the thought that won't stop haunting me as I use my 7 Plus. It's a powerful and well built machine, it thinks fast and feels solid and well built in the hand. But all too often it just seems so backwards to use, so convoluted on one hand and over-simplified on the other hand, for no reason.

Will things change dramatically in September? Experience says no. Better to just stop hoping or expecting, and perhaps be pleasantly surprised instead.

Even if apps can use that function bar it still won't see widespread adoption imo because only a small portion of iOS users will be able to access that feature . The majority of iOS users are going to be 7S and older users

 

[apolloa]

The App Store and manually entry of Apple ID credentials irritates the **** out me the most. Awhile back in a different thread I discussed a persistent issue where my son's iPad required him to manually input his Apple ID password at least 2-3 times in succession when requesting to get an app. He'd have to do it prior to my approval, then often 2 more times after I approved it. And all of this was with the setting to authenticate using his fingerprint turned on. I brought it up with Apple in store and over the phone and they never were able to identify the problem. Simultaneously, I was forced to manually approve via password my all of my kid's app requests--never gave me the option to use TouchID--on my iPhone yet I could use TouchID on the same iPhone for my personal app purchase. On my iPad, I could use TouchID for both. Setting on both devices were identical. Apple's solution? None, because they couldn't identify the cause of the problem. I even went through multiple erase/restore instances on all of these affected devices to no avail.

What's weirder? The fact that at some point later the behavior corrected itself with no intervention on my part whatsoever.

So basically that'll be a bug that Apple quietly fixed either on its network and systems side or through an iOS update.

If you're considering Android, Samsung claims they will commit to monthly security updates, just like the Pixel. If you don't know your Android, monthly security updates are the important updates.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/Sams...-for-unlocked-smartphones-in-the-U.S._id91968
Samsung shifts to monthly security updates schedule for unlocked smartphones in the U.S.


We'll see if they can keep this promise, but it's a great start to the S8. The unlocked S8 recently passed FCC.

Just like how Samsung said they would be releaseing monthly security patches right after Google announced them... yeah I don't believe it when they say this.

 

[epicrayban]

Just like how Samsung said they would be releaseing monthly security patches right after Google announced them... yeah I don't believe it when they say this.

That's fair. I'm not positive they can keep this promise either, but it's a good start.

Not sure if this is the same thing as their last promise. Why would they make this announcement twice? This time, with less SKUs, I think they have a better chance of keeping up.

And did that previous promise apply to the carrier versions? Cause at least on T-Mobile, those were mostly kept.

 

[Wildo6882]

That's fair. I'm not positive they can keep this promise either, but it's a good start.

Not sure if this is the same thing as their last promise. Why would they make this announcement twice? This time, with less SKUs, I think they have a better chance of keeping up.

And did that previous promise apply to the carrier versions? Cause at least on T-Mobile, those were mostly kept.

When it comes to my wife's AT&T S7 edge, it's on the March update. They've been pretty good at monthly updates, or at least pretty close to it.

 

[epicrayban]

When it comes to my wife's AT&T S7 edge, it's on the March update. They've been pretty good at monthly updates, or at least pretty close to it.

Same here with Tmobile on my S7 Edge last year. They kept up well with it, missing only two months on separate occasions. The next one would always come after. So if their promise before was for carrier versions, they kept to it fairly well.

This time's promise is for unlocked versions. People now have the opportunity to get an unlocked S8 that is free of carrier bloatware and will still get monthly security updates.

For those who don't know, monthly security updates are where it counts. It provides ease of mind taking care of any newly discovered exploits and sometimes include bug fixes. I certainly value it more than I value major software updates on day one, which I argue is more bragging right than necessity. On Android, full software updates just aren't as vital precisely because of the monthly patches, but also because Google updates their core apps through the Play store. A reasonable amount of wait is okay when the current Android you're running is likely already fast, stable, and feature-rich.

As unlocked options continue to get better in the US (from all OEMs), the customer wins.

 

[Abazigal]

It's not an apple issue app developer doesn't support a feature you want. Leave some feedback on the app store. Long press wouldn't be any different if an app developer didn't code for a specific action.

We all view different features differently. My use case is different from yours and I find 3dt extremely helpful in making my interaction with the iphone faster.

I find that force touch really shines with the new widget views in iOS 10. For example, I can force-touch on Next to view my total expenditure for the month.

Yes, maybe a long press in Android technically lets you accomplish the same thing, but I quite like the addictive "bubble wrap-popping” sensation of activating force touch, and I find it much faster and more satisfying to use than a long press.

 

[spinedoc77]

Even if apps can use that function bar it still won't see widespread adoption imo because only a small portion of iOS users will be able to access that feature . The majority of iOS users are going to be 7S and older users

I really don't care that much that the function bar will be DOA like 3d touch due to lack of external and internal support. What bums me out is physically losing screen size to the function bar, they may as well just put a bezel with a fp sensor there. But I'm still withholding judgement and giving Apple the benefit of the doubt, really hoping they hit it out of the park. Plus I'm excited to have the fp sensor on the front under the glass, nice and stealth.

 

[I7guy]

I find that force touch really shines with the new widget views in iOS 10. For example, I can force-touch on Next to view my total expenditure for the month.

Yes, maybe a long press in Android technically lets you accomplish the same thing, but I quite like the addictive "bubble wrap-popping” sensation of activating force touch, and I find it much faster and more satisfying to use than a long press.

There is a stream of conscientiousness that is blaming apple for the failure of an app developer to include peek-and-pop. There 3dt is a failure by this person.

It's not different than an android app supporting long press. You have a banking app that you long press on, what's in the menu?
- Open new document
- Tune to channel 47
- View recent activity

Are you going to blame google because your banking app doesn't know what to do on long press and say the feature is useless?

Eventually all apps catch up with the software updates. Software always lags hardware. All of my 3rd party financial apps now support touch id. I wouldn't say the same a year ago.

 

[Abazigal]

There is a stream of conscientiousness that is blaming apple for the failure of an app developer to include peek-and-pop. There 3dt is a failure by this person.

It's not different than an android app supporting long press. You have a banking app that you long press on, what's in the menu?
- Open new document
- Tune to channel 47
- View recent activity

Are you going to blame google because your banking app doesn't know what to do on long press and say the feature is useless?

I find that not every app benefits from force touch. For example, I can force touch on an email app to start a new email, but how is that faster than opening the app and pressing the compose button? The Apple Watch app lets me pair a new Apple Watch, but now often will you be doing that?

Still, some apps do have legitimate uses for said feature (I have some destinations saved in the ETA app and enjoy using force touch to quickly trigger a route from my current location to said destination), so it really boils down to the developer's creativity and willingness to implement those features.

I think it boils down to differing attitudes between Apple and Google. Apple puts the onus of supporting a particular API (such as split screen) squarely on the developers. Their rationale is ”Either you support the feature properly, or you don't support it at all.”)

With google, there is systemwide support for many features such as share sheet extensions and native tablet scaling, but they are horrible by nature, and not many developers might be incentivized to correct it if they felt it wasn't worth the effort.

Neither side is wrong.

 

[Radon87000]

Yes, maybe a long press in Android technically lets you accomplish the same thing, but I quite like the addictive "bubble wrap-popping” sensation of activating force touch, and I find it much faster and more satisfying to use than a long press.

My Android phone has vibrate on long press enabled and its the same thing.

I really don't care that much that the function bar will be DOA like 3d touch due to lack of external and internal support. What bums me out is physically losing screen size to the function bar, they may as well just put a bezel with a fp sensor there. But I'm still withholding judgement and giving Apple the benefit of the doubt, really hoping they hit it out of the park. Plus I'm excited to have the fp sensor on the front under the glass, nice and stealth.

Well I dont think Apple is that foolish as to decrease the size of the screen by including the second screen/function area if they didnt have confidence that it would be useful. Unlike 3DT which is unnoticeable, this can be a compromise if not done right.

Considering they have gone all out when it comes to pricing I have no doubt this is definitely one of the biggest release since 2007,even bigger than the iPhone 6. Some analysts are forecasting lower sales of the S8 thanks to this. Its unfortunate that only those who can afford to pay $1500 on a phone every year can enjoy it though because I buy multiple tablets and phones a year and this is a huge increase for me just for 1 phone
[doublepost=1489499930][/doublepost]

With google, there is systemwide support for many features such as share sheet extensions and native tablet scaling, but they are horrible by nature, and not many developers might be incentivized to correct it if they felt it wasn't worth the effort. Neither side is wrong.

But the benefit is older devices got something rather than nothing. A Moto G laying around in our house has jump to destination in maps using long press while my 700+ iPhone 6 doesnt.