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Have you used an Android device?
- Thread starter gc15
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I haven't tried Android, but I have tried the Nokia Lumia 900 and the thing that bothered me was that a month after the phone was released Microsoft announced that all current devices would not be able to run the new software due out in the fall.
A month after the phone came out it was deemed obsolete by Microsoft, luckily I was still within my 30 day return period and I returned it.
I feel Android devices fall under the same issue, too many phones being released by so many manufacturers and some either don't qualify for the latest update or it can take months for all the carriers to approve the software for your device.
With Apple all iOS devices get the same update on day one, for at least 3 years. Google tried some initiative to guarantee your device will stay update for at least 18 months, but it hasn't worked out so well. Now Google is going to try Android Silver, so good luck with that.
*As far as the phone and software, I actually did enjoy the windows phone but I didn't want to deal with update issues or outdate hardware less than 30 days after purchase.
A month after the phone came out it was deemed obsolete by Microsoft, luckily I was still within my 30 day return period and I returned it.
I feel Android devices fall under the same issue, too many phones being released by so many manufacturers and some either don't qualify for the latest update or it can take months for all the carriers to approve the software for your device.
With Apple all iOS devices get the same update on day one, for at least 3 years. Google tried some initiative to guarantee your device will stay update for at least 18 months, but it hasn't worked out so well. Now Google is going to try Android Silver, so good luck with that.
*As far as the phone and software, I actually did enjoy the windows phone but I didn't want to deal with update issues or outdate hardware less than 30 days after purchase.
I switched entirely from Apple devices for about 6 months - went from a 27" iMac, iPad 4, iPad Mini, and iPhone 5 to a Dell XPS 2710, Nexus 7, and Nexus 4/Moto G.
Pros:
Windows: Gaming. It's just easier to not be worrying about compatibility, boot camping, or a VM.
N7: Small and light. Decent screen. Great specs for games and various tasks.
N4: Very nice phone overall. Sleek and clean, great screen.
Moto G: Cheap, decent screen, solid reception.
Cons (and what brought me back)
Windows: Windows 8 is clunky. Especially on a 27" screen. Compatibility with older windows programs is mediocre, and it's a bit of a resource hog - making the high end XPS 2710 (3.1GHz i7, 8GB RAM, 32GB SSD/2TB 7200RPM HDD) run far slower than the base 2010 27" iMac I had. I was overall displeased with Windows 8.
N7: Form factor is all wrong. Thin and tall is fine on a phone, but on a tablet it causes issues.
N4: Horrible, horrible reception. I had no choice but to switch to a different phone, as I quite literally never had a signal at my house. The camera was trash as well, but those are the only issues I had with it.
Moto G: Overall cheap quality - especially the screen's glass and the overpriced back plates. Decent phone though, and I still have it as a wi-fi only device. Not that it sees much use. 50/50 chance it turns into a brick for a few days if the battery dies.
Android overall: Google services are just "meh" to me. They lack integration, and the integration they have is invasive enough that it causes concern. Horrible battery life on all three devices. Abysmal media players (both stock and 3rd party), and the dire need for a better syncing platform.
I wasn't particularly unhappy with Android. Just not nearly as happy as I was with iOS.
I've now made the move back with a new 27" iMac, rMBP, iPad Air, and iPhone 5C.
Pros:
Windows: Gaming. It's just easier to not be worrying about compatibility, boot camping, or a VM.
N7: Small and light. Decent screen. Great specs for games and various tasks.
N4: Very nice phone overall. Sleek and clean, great screen.
Moto G: Cheap, decent screen, solid reception.
Cons (and what brought me back)
Windows: Windows 8 is clunky. Especially on a 27" screen. Compatibility with older windows programs is mediocre, and it's a bit of a resource hog - making the high end XPS 2710 (3.1GHz i7, 8GB RAM, 32GB SSD/2TB 7200RPM HDD) run far slower than the base 2010 27" iMac I had. I was overall displeased with Windows 8.
N7: Form factor is all wrong. Thin and tall is fine on a phone, but on a tablet it causes issues.
N4: Horrible, horrible reception. I had no choice but to switch to a different phone, as I quite literally never had a signal at my house. The camera was trash as well, but those are the only issues I had with it.
Moto G: Overall cheap quality - especially the screen's glass and the overpriced back plates. Decent phone though, and I still have it as a wi-fi only device. Not that it sees much use. 50/50 chance it turns into a brick for a few days if the battery dies.
Android overall: Google services are just "meh" to me. They lack integration, and the integration they have is invasive enough that it causes concern. Horrible battery life on all three devices. Abysmal media players (both stock and 3rd party), and the dire need for a better syncing platform.
I wasn't particularly unhappy with Android. Just not nearly as happy as I was with iOS.
I've now made the move back with a new 27" iMac, rMBP, iPad Air, and iPhone 5C.
I have and use several Android devices. The Androids, I mostly just tinker with while I use the iPhone/iPad as my "production" devices. My primary phone is the iPhone because it's pretty well-balanced in terms of my requirements (battery life, camera, display quality, firmware, performance, reception, etc). It may not always be the best in a category but it's usually in the top 3 among the devices under consideration.
At this point in time, Android has matured enough on smartphones that if not for my dependency on iMessage and FaceTime, I'd have no problem using Android as my daily driver. In fact, I actually prefer the stock Android 4.0+ interface over iOS 7. Unfortunately, the available devices usually have some major shortcomings in certain areas making the iPhone an overall better option for me.
What drove me away from my iphone 5s was the small screen, lack of keyboard swyping, terrible notification system, lack of widgets and horrible battery life.
I have an LG G2 now and it solves all of those problems and I love it. An iphone 6 5.5" with swype on the keyboard might bring me back though. We shall see.
I have an LG G2 now and it solves all of those problems and I love it. An iphone 6 5.5" with swype on the keyboard might bring me back though. We shall see.
I think the notification centre in iOS is much better. Some widgets look nice but they drain the battery, so I don't use them on my tablet. I think widgets are gimmicky. Battery life is an issue on iPhones and most Android phones. Only the 2014 HTC and Samsung high end offerings address this, and I'm expecting the iPhone 6 to do likewise. iOS7 is a battery hog IME.
I have a few widgets. I could live without them but since I don't have to I don't. I have a weather widget which is beautiful, a battery widget, music widget and some others. They are truly fun to use and offer easy access to information. It can really spruce up your phone experience vs just icons like IOS but my main concerns are size of screen, and swype on the keyboard. Seems like IOS 8 might fix all these issues but IOS 7 really annoys me with its lack of real buttons and white everywhere appearance. So far android has been terrific for me and that is a leap for me because I love me some apple.
Here is a point though that is rarely made. You can't just compare apple to android. Every android phone has a different implementation of android and how the OS functions and some are better than others. I prefer LGs implementation over stock android. I even like Samsungs. Stock android is horrible in my opinion. So its not apples to oranges, its more like apples to fruit and vegetables. There are many different android flavors to choose from whereas with apple you only get one.
I went from an iPhone 4s to a Note 2 nearly two years ago because I was unhappy with iOS on the phone (always liked it on my iPad) Also the phone display was far too small.
The Note is a great phone, but to be honest, the features to personalise Android are largely gimmicks in as much as I spent a few hours personalising everything the first few days. Thereafter I haven't touched any of those features. Apart from my phone, all my other devices are either iOS or Mavericks and I regret having left the ecosystem with my phone.
I shall be renewing later this year to the new iPhone 6 and all the functionality of compatible devices!
If only I could get rid of my gmail account too..
The Note is a great phone, but to be honest, the features to personalise Android are largely gimmicks in as much as I spent a few hours personalising everything the first few days. Thereafter I haven't touched any of those features. Apart from my phone, all my other devices are either iOS or Mavericks and I regret having left the ecosystem with my phone.
I shall be renewing later this year to the new iPhone 6 and all the functionality of compatible devices!
If only I could get rid of my gmail account too..
I still have an Android tablet and have used multiple Android phones in the past.
I used to be an Android guy and preferred it to iOS. Then my employer gave me an iPhone which I didn't like for a few months.
Slowly I came around and began to prefer it to Android. So I started expanding my Apple ecosystem and with the integration between devices much prefer it to Android. (See sig).
That said I don't have any problems with Android and there are a few things I prefer on it over iOS. But at this point in time I'm sticking with the iPhone.
Because integration is why I like it so much iOS 8 with Yosemite has me pretty excited. Plus the main thing I don't like about an iPhone is screen size. So in a few months all my gripes should be addressed.
I used to be an Android guy and preferred it to iOS. Then my employer gave me an iPhone which I didn't like for a few months.
Slowly I came around and began to prefer it to Android. So I started expanding my Apple ecosystem and with the integration between devices much prefer it to Android. (See sig).
That said I don't have any problems with Android and there are a few things I prefer on it over iOS. But at this point in time I'm sticking with the iPhone.
Because integration is why I like it so much iOS 8 with Yosemite has me pretty excited. Plus the main thing I don't like about an iPhone is screen size. So in a few months all my gripes should be addressed.
I have tried switching over to android a few times. I have felt the last couple of years that their hardware and screens are better. But I always come back. A lot of my decision though is due to the tools I use on my iPhone for development. If I was not an iOS developer, I think I would be rocking an Android...
The iPhone 6 had better have 178576768x328476564 resolution because higher numbers.
I know what you're saying. I'd like to see that as well, but past that there's a limit to what the human eye can discern as far as phone resolution.
The higher resolution does not add much to the user experience.The iPhone 6 had better have 178576768x328476564 resolution because higher numbers.
I know what you're saying. I'd like to see that as well, but past that there's a limit to what the human eye can discern as far as phone resolution.
Use a late 2012 Mac Mini, iPad4, 2012 and 2013 Nexus 7 and have a iPhone 4S but my daily phone is a Moto G. The Moto G Keyboard and larger screen alone make the Moto a much better choice than my 4S plus the screen is so much nicer to look at and the battery life is absolutely amazing! As far as apps go everything I have on my iPhone / iPad I have on my Android devices and music from iTunes transfers perfectly with Double Twist. I need my phone to work as a tool and at this point the iPhone is just not right for me but possibly the 6 will change my mind.
Agreed. A larger iPhone screen probably does need a resolution bump, though. I'm just doubting these newer 2560x1440displays. On a phone-sized screen, you won't notice the difference over a 1704x960. It's more marketing hype. People love big numbers.
Woah, that's a lot of data!
Tethering for a home connection too?
----------
Videos at a native HD resolution would be nice though just to make things a little easier across the board if you are putting videos on your phone.
Android and iOS, for all their similarities, really are completely different animals.
I have personally owned the following Android phones: HTC EVO 4G, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, AT&T Skyrocket, Nexus 4, Galaxy S4, and the Nexus 5. I have also owned every iPhone that has been manufactured, and the 5S is my current smartphone. I'll try to break down my thoughts succinctly:
- Android is more customizable than iOS, to a point. It's a lot of little things like being able to move your folders and apps around on the screen, or leaving them in the app drawer instead of having them in the launcher. Ultimately, though, this only matters if you have a hang up about the way that iOS manages apps and the homescreens, which I don't. In some ways, I prefer the simplicity of iOS, particularly with the new folder structure of iOS 7.
- Android has a better notification system. I can only imagine that anyone who disagrees with this assertion hasn't used Android, or at least Google's version of Android (TouchWiz notifications are only slightly different). Where Apple is doing better than Android in this regard is that the Today screen is integrated into the pull down notification system, and in Android Google Now feels like a separate entity (aside from the occassional Google Now notifications, such as letting you know how long your commute is going to be, weather updates, etc.). This feeds into the next point:
- Android feels very cobbled together compared to iOS. Google has been trying to fix this by creating their own Launcher that ties features together better, but very little of the OS feels integrated. The app drawer, notifications, Google Now, widgets...they all feel like pieces of a missing whole. Android doesn't tie anything together very well, and it is truly the sum of its parts rather than a cohesive whole. This does make it so that some parts can be replaced at the user's discretion, but it also make it feel clunky sometimes too.
- Widgets: I don't get the appeal. Okay, for some at-a-glance information I guess it's nice, but I like a clean interface and most widgets definitely don't work well when that's the look you're going for. I used to have a few widgets on the screen to the right of my homescreen so I could swipe over and look at stuff like weather, but honestly it took the same amount of effort as just opening the app. Mail widgets and stuff always felt pointless to me: either I'm going to read the message (which opens the app) or delete it (which requires opening the app)...may as well just open the app. I thought Google Now's "widgets" were more useful and I thought that integrating them into the overall "at a glance" tool made sense, and Apple is essentially doing the same thing with the Today screen, so in the end I think both features end up pretty much even.
- Apps. Look, the differences between Android and iOS apps from major distributors are pretty much negligible at this point. Smaller developers seem to take more care with their apps on iOS and they generally seem more polished and stable, but in general you'll probably be able to find the same experiences on either platform. The major difference I found between the two is that iOS apps are, in general, faster and more stable. I'll give you an example: DISH has an app for watching TV on the go; on Android the app is pitiful, constantly crashing and generally slow. You often had to reload it to get it to play live TV on an Android device. On iOS, it works beautifully 99% of the time. Is this Android's fault? Likely not. But the fact that iOS gets more love from DISH is a factor in my enjoyment of the platform.
- Google. I'm really not interesting in being part of Google's ecosystem, but if you want to get the most out of an Android phone you really have to be. Yes, you can with effort work around Google and still get use out of an Android phone, but it's designed to suck you into their infrastructure and it's easier to just allow yourself to be assimilated. Apple is the same way, but I am a lot less hesitant about Apple's business model than I am Google's. I also feel like Google is constantly in beta mode with their apps and stuff: anything and everything can change at a moment's notice, whether you like it or not. Google is all too happy to shove big changes down your throat; look at how they handled Google+. I was the biggest Google fanboy in the world a few years ago: I was big into Chrome OS (was a Top Contributor or whatever we were called on the Chrome support forum) and Android, Google Drive, Gmail, Google+, all that stuff. But over time I just came to the conclusion that everything Google does is a manipulation to get more of your data, and I just got jaded about being an enthusiastic product for them to sell. I don't begrudge them for it; it has served them and their users well. I just don't want to be a part of it. They also are all too happy to use their customers as guinea pigs for their new products; they will happily sell you something that isn't quite up to snuff yet with the promise that future updates will make it better.
Bottom line: there are pros and cons to both systems, but as I've gotten older and more interested in a polished, high quality experience than playing with and tweaking my toys I've moved back to Apple for just about everything. Once iCloud Drive comes out I will sever my ties with Google almost completely (I still have a Gmail account that forwards to my iCloud email; my eighty-four year old grandfather can't stop using it for some reason).
I have personally owned the following Android phones: HTC EVO 4G, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, AT&T Skyrocket, Nexus 4, Galaxy S4, and the Nexus 5. I have also owned every iPhone that has been manufactured, and the 5S is my current smartphone. I'll try to break down my thoughts succinctly:
- Android is more customizable than iOS, to a point. It's a lot of little things like being able to move your folders and apps around on the screen, or leaving them in the app drawer instead of having them in the launcher. Ultimately, though, this only matters if you have a hang up about the way that iOS manages apps and the homescreens, which I don't. In some ways, I prefer the simplicity of iOS, particularly with the new folder structure of iOS 7.
- Android has a better notification system. I can only imagine that anyone who disagrees with this assertion hasn't used Android, or at least Google's version of Android (TouchWiz notifications are only slightly different). Where Apple is doing better than Android in this regard is that the Today screen is integrated into the pull down notification system, and in Android Google Now feels like a separate entity (aside from the occassional Google Now notifications, such as letting you know how long your commute is going to be, weather updates, etc.). This feeds into the next point:
- Android feels very cobbled together compared to iOS. Google has been trying to fix this by creating their own Launcher that ties features together better, but very little of the OS feels integrated. The app drawer, notifications, Google Now, widgets...they all feel like pieces of a missing whole. Android doesn't tie anything together very well, and it is truly the sum of its parts rather than a cohesive whole. This does make it so that some parts can be replaced at the user's discretion, but it also make it feel clunky sometimes too.
- Widgets: I don't get the appeal. Okay, for some at-a-glance information I guess it's nice, but I like a clean interface and most widgets definitely don't work well when that's the look you're going for. I used to have a few widgets on the screen to the right of my homescreen so I could swipe over and look at stuff like weather, but honestly it took the same amount of effort as just opening the app. Mail widgets and stuff always felt pointless to me: either I'm going to read the message (which opens the app) or delete it (which requires opening the app)...may as well just open the app. I thought Google Now's "widgets" were more useful and I thought that integrating them into the overall "at a glance" tool made sense, and Apple is essentially doing the same thing with the Today screen, so in the end I think both features end up pretty much even.
- Apps. Look, the differences between Android and iOS apps from major distributors are pretty much negligible at this point. Smaller developers seem to take more care with their apps on iOS and they generally seem more polished and stable, but in general you'll probably be able to find the same experiences on either platform. The major difference I found between the two is that iOS apps are, in general, faster and more stable. I'll give you an example: DISH has an app for watching TV on the go; on Android the app is pitiful, constantly crashing and generally slow. You often had to reload it to get it to play live TV on an Android device. On iOS, it works beautifully 99% of the time. Is this Android's fault? Likely not. But the fact that iOS gets more love from DISH is a factor in my enjoyment of the platform.
- Google. I'm really not interesting in being part of Google's ecosystem, but if you want to get the most out of an Android phone you really have to be. Yes, you can with effort work around Google and still get use out of an Android phone, but it's designed to suck you into their infrastructure and it's easier to just allow yourself to be assimilated. Apple is the same way, but I am a lot less hesitant about Apple's business model than I am Google's. I also feel like Google is constantly in beta mode with their apps and stuff: anything and everything can change at a moment's notice, whether you like it or not. Google is all too happy to shove big changes down your throat; look at how they handled Google+. I was the biggest Google fanboy in the world a few years ago: I was big into Chrome OS (was a Top Contributor or whatever we were called on the Chrome support forum) and Android, Google Drive, Gmail, Google+, all that stuff. But over time I just came to the conclusion that everything Google does is a manipulation to get more of your data, and I just got jaded about being an enthusiastic product for them to sell. I don't begrudge them for it; it has served them and their users well. I just don't want to be a part of it. They also are all too happy to use their customers as guinea pigs for their new products; they will happily sell you something that isn't quite up to snuff yet with the promise that future updates will make it better.
Bottom line: there are pros and cons to both systems, but as I've gotten older and more interested in a polished, high quality experience than playing with and tweaking my toys I've moved back to Apple for just about everything. Once iCloud Drive comes out I will sever my ties with Google almost completely (I still have a Gmail account that forwards to my iCloud email; my eighty-four year old grandfather can't stop using it for some reason).