Getting Sick of Apple

[WB2Colorado]

As far as multitasking goes I think that battery life and weight are far more important in a low powered device. Pre-emptive multitasking is not necessarily what is best for a phone.

Multitasking has become a deal breaker for me these days, as I pretty much use "mobile devices" exclusively. The first time I turned on my laptop in months was to back up my iPhone in iTunes before installing the iOS 9 public beta. There are apps that I use on my iPhone and iPad that are crippled because of iOS limitations on background multitasking and those problems just aren't there on Android. Honestly, I probably wouldn't even be considering switching to Android if iOS had background multitasking, but it doesn't so here I am.

If these devices are going to replace traditional computers some day then Apple needs to stop treating them differently from laptops, especially the iPad.

 

[iMi]

Well you should get what you want the most. I have many Android, Windows but especially Apple devices. I've gone through the Google TV, Chromecast, Samsung Note, etc... thing but I kind of view Android as a type of Linux and the whole thing just seems to be a mess with Google changing strategies every other year.

I admit to mainly being an Apple user but I find what Microsoft is doing with Windows to be interesting. Apple does appear to be less exciting these days but I guess it's hard to come up with hits every year. I wish they would get around to exploiting the possibilities of the Apple TV.

I think Android has lost its appeal for me. Google is too ad oriented and its world is a mess with everyone doing something different. In the longer term I would not count either Microsoft or Apple out. In fact I suspect they will be around long after people have tired of the mess that is Android and price becomes less of an issue.

As far as multitasking goes I think that battery life and weight are far more important in a low powered device. Pre-emptive multitasking is not necessarily what is best for a phone.

Philip

Very interesting comments. The fragmentation of Android could eventually spell trouble for the platform. Windows is kicking on all cylinders these days and they have the resources and talent needed to compete with Apple. If you look at the latest software releases, they are doing a great job. The new Office for Mac is fantastic. I've dropped Evernote for OneNote already (great software) and the iOS implementation of the office suite is equally impressive.

Hardware is still a problem.

 

[macrem]

wow so may fallacies left here by those who appear as either ignorant or with better judgement blinded by jealousy because their mobile devices cannot multitask efficiently and intelligently like iOS. My Nexus is laggy with a few apps open while iOS is buttery smooth with tons of apps open while updating apps, syncing photos, getting new messages & notifications, listening to music, surfing the web, etc. simultaneously.

 

[iMi]

wow so may fallacies left here by those who appear as either ignorant or with better judgement blinded by jealousy because their mobile devices cannot multitask intelligently like iOS. My Nexus is laggy with a few apps open while iOS is buttery smooth with tons of apps open and while updating apps, getting new messages & notifications, listening to music, surfing the web, etc. simultaneously.

I'll agree with you about iOS generally being more elegant, but running smoothly? I really don't think so... I have experience ton of bugs and multitasking has never been it's strong suite. iPhone 6 has arguably the worse call reliability of any phone I've used recently. If the iPhone 5S I've had didn't completely disintegrate (screen failed, was replaced, then mother board completely failed) I would have gone back to using it.

Also, do you remember when Apple release an iOS update that bricked thousands of iPhones and made them unusable? That's the smooth operation I've come to expect from them lately. Maybe it was just their way of saying we need a break from all this great technology to stop and smell the roses Steve Jobs said Apple knows what you need and want before you even realize it yourself. Maybe that's true!!!

 

[macrem]

I've only had some of the troubles you mentioned with the few Android devices I have had but not with any of the iOS devices you mentioned plus several more. Apple would not have the best customer satisfaction in the industry if their products were unreliable and if you do have troubles, they offer excellent support.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Also, do you remember when Apple release an iOS update that bricked thousands of iPhones and made them unusable? That's the smooth operation I've come to expect from them lately.

What was the outcome of that? Did Apple release a further update to correct it or did people just have to discard their iPhones?

I have seen it mentioned several times on here about these 'bricked' iPhones but have never seen it explained in detail or met anybody in real life affected by it. Then again if it only affected 'thousands' of users, I'd be pretty lucky to know one of them considering how many iPhones there are worldwide I suppose.

 

[Michael Goff]

Very interesting comments. The fragmentation of Android could eventually spell trouble for the platform. Windows is kicking on all cylinders these days and they have the resources and talent needed to compete with Apple. If you look at the latest software releases, they are doing a great job. The new Office for Mac is fantastic. I've dropped Evernote for OneNote already (great software) and the iOS implementation of the office suite is equally impressive.

Hardware is still a problem.

Fragmentation hasn't spelled trouble for Windows, I don't see why it would for Android.

 

[Khalanad75]

If these devices are going to replace traditional computers some day then Apple needs to stop treating them differently from laptops, especially the iPad.

Are they really supposed to though?

I don't think the day will ever come to light where someone writes a 900 page thesis paper on their phone/tablet.

 

[Nogitsune]

Fragmentation hasn't spelled trouble for Windows, I don't see why it would for Android.

Desktop and mobile are two different beasts. Fragmentation on mobile with android largely differs from the fragmentation on desktop with windows.

I can buy a new android phone today that is recently released but it is already running an outdated version of android.

You can't just go into a store and buy a windows pc running vista.

On top of that most hardware can run windows versions for sometime to come....good chance your android phone may not ever see any major updates.

 

[sracer]

Considering many of these things you list are under a different era of Microsoft under a much different CEO than Satya(Similar to how cook is definitely different from Jobs), most of your claims are unsubstantiated really.

Nobody is talking about the PDA era of smartphones. We were talking about Windows Phone and the 'pivots' within that Operating system...not something 10-15 years ago

I understand that. My comment regarding 3 'pivots' are AFTER the post-PocketPC era. I wasn't explicit in my reason for mentioning Microsoft's earlier dominance... my point is that Microsoft has a horrendous track record in the mobile space .... not only with Windows Phone, but even before that.

In regards to their limited market share...Yes part of the blame has to do with the fact they underestimated the iPhone back in 2007.

It also has to do with the fact that from the time iPhone was released and announced and then android.......Microsoft did not have a good operating system until 2010 with Wp7...and it was a poorly handled/execution(WP8 is what 7 should've been and 8.1 is what 8 should have been in truth, this is coming from a wp fan)

That is obviously your opinion. Microsoft did indeed have, not just good, but excellent mobiles operating systems before WP7. Microsoft's decline had nothing to do with the technical merits of their offerings, but with marketing and their internal corporate organization.

So it is highly doubtful they are going to be exiting. Satya is doing things drastically different from your memories of Microsoft.

You are free to believe that, people always point to reasons why "this time it will be different"... but it never is.

 

[iMi]

I've only had some of the troubles you mentioned with the few Android devices I have had but not with any of the iOS devices you mentioned plus several more. Apple would not have the best customer satisfaction in the industry if their products were unreliable and if you do have troubles, they offer excellent support.

They do offer great support. I'll never forget when after sending a computer back to them for the fourth repair in two years (under Applecare) I've received a call from their corporate office. A very polite lady said she was concerned about the experience I was having with Apple and, considering that I was a valuable customer, she asked if "it would be okay" if they send a brand new, next generation machine to replace the defective one.

I said, "yup, that would be okay" trying to be cool about it

That happened a few years go, but I think you are right about the customer service. That mentality still exists at Apple. At least in terms of customer support. I've generally had an awesome experience in that regard.

 

[bonnie7168]

Talking with my grandchildren on FaceTime........Priceless

 

[Michael Goff]

Desktop and mobile are two different beasts. Fragmentation on mobile with android largely differs from the fragmentation on desktop with windows.

I can buy a new android phone today that is recently released but it is already running an outdated version of android.

You can't just go into a store and buy a windows pc running vista.

On top of that most hardware can run windows versions for sometime to come....good chance your android phone may not ever see any major updates.

But what does that mean for the end user?

 

[Nogitsune]

But what does that mean for the end user?

It means they are likely going to be missing out on new features as well as software enhancements for one thing. I work sales and marketing and one thing I am noticing about consumers is they are becoming more aware of the products they are using and its deficiencies. And many users I have come in contact are often leaving android for various reasons for an iPhone or windows phone.

 

[RickInHouston]

I'll agree with you about iOS generally being more elegant, but running smoothly? I really don't think so... I have experience ton of bugs and multitasking has never been it's strong suite. iPhone 6 has arguably the worse call reliability of any phone I've used recently. If the iPhone 5S I've had didn't completely disintegrate (screen failed, was replaced, then mother board completely failed) I would have gone back to using it.

Also, do you remember when Apple release an iOS update that bricked thousands of iPhones and made them unusable? That's the smooth operation I've come to expect from them lately. Maybe it was just their way of saying we need a break from all this great technology to stop and smell the roses Steve Jobs said Apple knows what you need and want before you even realize it yourself. Maybe that's true!!!

If you don't have the most current hardware iOS device, it is not buttery smooth.

 

[Michael Goff]

It means they are likely going to be missing out on new features as well as software enhancements for one thing. I work sales and marketing and one thing I am noticing about consumers is they are becoming more aware of the products they are using and its deficiencies. And many users I have come in contact are often leaving android for various reasons for an iPhone or windows phone.

An example would be nice.

 

[gotluck]

I am frustrated with the update experience on android oem phones.

As a result I will only buy nexus devices, or it's back to iOS. These companies just cant be trusted to support their products for what I feel is a reasonable amount of time. 2 years is not enough. My S4 GPE seems to be end of lifed at 5.0 (FU samsung) , when M would run beautifully on the device for sure. Even The nexus 4 might even be getting M.

Planned obsolecence through updates on skinned versions of android are worse than iOS as well IMO. (which contributes to almost all android devices inability to hold value over time)

 

[Michael Goff]

I am frustrated with the update experience on android oem phones.

As a result I will only buy nexus devices, or it's back to iOS. These companies just cant be trusted to support their products for what I feel is a reasonable amount of time. 2 years is not enough. My S4 GPE seems to be end of lifed at 5.0 (FU samsung) , when M would run beautifully on the device for sure. Even The nexus 4 might even be getting M.

Planned obsolecence through updates on skinned versions of android are worse than iOS as well IMO. (which contributes to almost all android devices inability to hold value over time)

I hope the you're okay with sideloading the updates, since even Nexus devices can be slowed down on the updates these days. Also, Google stopped the GPe program, don't know why you blame Samsung for it.

 

[JackieInCo]

I am frustrated with the update experience on android oem phones.

As a result I will only buy nexus devices, or it's back to iOS. These companies just cant be trusted to support their products for what I feel is a reasonable amount of time. 2 years is not enough. My S4 GPE seems to be end of lifed at 5.0 (FU samsung) , when M would run beautifully on the device for sure. Even The nexus 4 might even be getting M.

Planned obsolecence through updates on skinned versions of android are worse than iOS as well IMO. (which contributes to almost all android devices inability to hold value over time)

My Note 4 and Note Edge have only received one update since buying them in January. They are still on 5.0.1 Supposedly, T-Mobile will eventually release an update sometime in the fall but I'm not counting on it.

The S6 will be the same soon as is the case with all non Nexus Androids.

I may get a Nexus in the fall depending on what the specs are. Even my nearly three year old Nexus 4 is still being updated.

 

[gotluck]

I hope the you're okay with sideloading the updates, since even Nexus devices can be slowed down on the updates these days. Also, Google stopped the GPe program, don't know why you blame Samsung for it.

Yes I am okay with sideloading, even though that sucks

In the GPE program, it was actually the OEM that was responsible for the updates (working with google). GS4 is on 5.0 while all other GPE are likely end of lifed at 5.1, which I would be happy with.

If the ball was entirely in googles court they wouldn't leave just one GPE device on 5.0, I definitely blame samsung - theyve always secretly hated the one samsung device with good software I emailed samsung USA asking about the situation and they claimed most recent firmware for gs4gpe was 4.4.2 - they don't even know their own products (and yes googles support pages lead you to contact samsung and the device is indeed listed in samsung support pages)

 

[Michael Goff]

Yes I am okay with sideloading, even though that sucks

In the GPE program, it was actually the OEM that was responsible for the updates (working with google). GS4 is on 5.0 while all other GPE are likely end of lifed at 5.1, which I would be happy with.

If the ball was entirely in googles court they wouldn't leave just one GPE device on 5.0, I definitely blame samsung - theyve always secretly hated the one samsung device with good software I emailed samsung USA asking about the situation and they claimed most recent firmware for gs4gpe was 4.4.2 - they don't even know their own products

Huh.

Learned something new today. I thought Google did those updates for the GPE.

 

[Renzatic]

As for their "universal app program"... this isn't the first time that Microsoft has made intentions like this. All previous attempts failed. There is nothing fundamentally different this go-round to indicate that it will be different.

Other than the fact Win10 is built almost entirely out of them. Explorer, the oldschool Control Panel, and some old Win utility apps are still Win32 based, but rumor has it that by the time Redstone comes out sometime in the middle of '16, they'll be either depreciated, (mostly hanging around for Enterprise compatibility, like how MS still has Internet Explorer buried deep in Win10), or replaced entirely.

Things aren't looking too grand for Windows Phone, but I'm not going to write it off just yet. They're still banking too much on it, and talking about it way too much.

 

[Nogitsune]

An example would be nice.

What do you need an example for. Lmao if your phone is released with iOS 8 and never gets subsequent updates then your phone is out of date and missing out on features and improvements. Thankfully Apple is excellent with updates.

But with android unless you have nexus you are pretty much always behind.

 

[Michael Goff]

What do you need an example for. Lmao if your phone is released with iOS 8 and never gets subsequent updates then your phone is out of date and missing out on features and improvements. Thankfully Apple is excellent with updates.

But with android unless you have nexus you are pretty much always behind.

But for most people, only the apps matter. So, once again, an example of how fragmentation actually affects the end user would be nice,

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

But for most people, only the apps matter. So, once again, an example of how fragmentation actually affects the end user would be nice,

It used to be the case that certain apps would not work or were not available for all Android devices due to screen size constraints. Is this still a reality?