iOS user Regretted Changing to Android

[LSUtigers03]

It took me less than two weeks of using a Galaxy Nexus and a Rezound to realize that I needed to switch back.

I went the opposite way. I had a 4s and now I have a Galaxy Nexus and I'm very happy with it. The Nexus and iPad 2 I feel is a great combo.

 

[PlatinuM195]

If you had it for a month, you didn't try very hard at all it seems. I have had my SGS2 Skyrocket for about 2 weeks now, and I have not rooted it or placed any custom roms on it, yet I have an app that notifies me, even in standby, if I have an sms, email, text, app update and so on, via audio and visual notification. The app is called NoLED. And this also takes care of notification badges too, since NoLED tells you exactly how many missed calls, texts, sms messages, voice mails, charging indicator, current weather and any app you specify that updates.

Gmail is a POS email client. If you had ask sd any Android user, they would have guided you to K-9, although iOS'es email and Sparrow are much, much better than any Android email app. K-9 would have been in 3rd place to those 2, if it was on iOS.

Can't help the fact you have small hands and a 4.5 inch screen is too big. A little planning and educating yourself by playing with in store phones could have told you the S2 would be too big for you.

Point is, you don't have much in the way of a valid point. If you had given your opinion about the Android OS not being to your liking, or there was lag in the processes that you couldn't stand or some other hardware glitch, I could understand. But what you posted... That was more akin to someone complaining, just to complain, imo. Not hating on you, it's just how I perceived your post.

Personally, I enjoy using Android, but I also enjoy WebOS and iOS. Got no real complaints about any of them. It really seems like people hate on iOS or Android because they didn't educate themselves fully on the capabilities, or they are just hating to hate (you see this a lot on the Android forums, unfortunately.)

It's not that the features that I mentioned were unavailable (notification badges etc.), I definitely found many ways to get notification badges. I should have mentioned that it's more about the consistency. For example, the notification badges, it felt that every app implemented badges in a non-unified way. It felt as if notifications, badges, the way I'd want to be notified, lock screen etc. were quite different everytime and didn't always work for every app.

 

[f1restarter]

It took me less than two weeks of using a Galaxy Nexus and a Rezound to realize that I needed to switch back.

I finally decided to switch to the iPhone 4s after testing the HTC One X for a few days in the store and comparing it to the iPhone sitting just next to it. I was totally set on getting the One X since it was the first quad core based android phone and most importantly I loved the huge screen it offered.

But when I actually tested the google maps and web browsing, I was again reminded of the typical android lag/choppiness. Even my friend who is a devoted Android user commented "why the hell is it still laggy even though it's a quad core phone and why is the iPhone 4s still so smooth?".

Anyway I check the running programs on the One X and of course there were crazy amount of apps running in the background. I switched them off but after a while again most of the apps would re-appear in the running apps section. I compared how quickly in google maps I can be located and the iPhone almost immediately tracked me while it took longer on the One X. Finally there was really no way for me to justify the slight lag on the One X even though the phone was slightly cheaper than the iPhone.

Compared to the iOS android just seems like a cheap knock-off and in many ways it actually is. Maybe if I were a teenager I would've definitely chosen the One X over the iPhone since it offers more "bling" features like the HTC Sense which personally I find tacky and annoying. Anyway after using the iPhone for a few days I am absolutely glad I switched from Android and how simple and easy everything feels and it just works.

 

[jmgregory1]

I love the fact that most Android powered phones are on a constant upgrade schedule. Who doesn't like to see a new phone coming to market every week? It reminds me of the good old days when new pc desktops were released every week, with each new iteration offering such incredible performance upgrades like a fractional increase in ram or storage. That's the way things should be.

I mean, really, who cares about the operating system? Lag schmag. As long as the processor is faster and it has more ram, I don't care if there is lag. I just want the newest, fastest, biggest, thinnest, thickest, bestest Android phone out.

I just noticed that while typing this, another new android phone was just released by HTC. Time to dump my last week's new Samsung and pick me up one of these great new HTC One XXX Sensation Inspiration Evo!

 

[onthecouchagain]

The Nexus and iPad 2 I feel is a great combo.

Couldn't agree with this more.

iOS is so much better on the iPad than it is on the iPhone. Personally, after owning an iPad for the first time, I've come to realize just how terrible iOS is on the iPhone. The iOS keyboard, Safari, Mail, and more -- all so much better on the iPad.

 

[Lindenhurst]

I switched to Android, a few months after the 4s came out. I've had a great experience with the phone, all of my favoriate apps and more are on the system so I don't miss out. Gave my 4s the my wife and we are both happy.

I switched to Samsung Galaxy Note with ATT and couldn't be happier. My wife and son have IP4's and they love them.

Is my Android any better or worse than the iPhone? Sure it is ! Each has its strengths and weaknesses.
Would I go back to iPhone? Sure I would, when the screen is a tad bigger .
We'll see this Fall. I'm hoping Apple surprises us all.

 

[cynics]

I love the fact that most Android powered phones are on a constant upgrade schedule. Who doesn't like to see a new phone coming to market every week? It reminds me of the good old days when new pc desktops were released every week, with each new iteration offering such incredible performance upgrades like a fractional increase in ram or storage. That's the way things should be.

I mean, really, who cares about the operating system? Lag schmag. As long as the processor is faster and it has more ram, I don't care if there is lag. I just want the newest, fastest, biggest, thinnest, thickest, bestest Android phone out.

I just noticed that while typing this, another new android phone was just released by HTC. Time to dump my last week's new Samsung and pick me up one of these great new HTC One XXX Sensation Inspiration Evo!

If your a one upper and always have to have the latest and greatest thing that comes out then that your problem. Don't get upset that someone gives you too many choices cause no one is holding a gun to your head making you buy stuff.

My girlfriends OG droid still runs apps and makes phone calls. Of course she is a rational person.

Besides the additions that HTC add are things that apple is not offering. So you are saying if you had an HTC phone without NFC and HTC released an NFC phone you'd HAVE to buy it? Even though your iPhone doesn't have it?

Sounds more like someone that has blinders on. Nothing wrong with being brand loyal but if the only reason is because they release phones at a slower rate then that's just irrational.

I'm using an iPhone 4S now and I'll keep it until something that works better for me comes along.

 

[jmgregory1]

My point was more that there is a distinct difference between Apple's model of creating not just a product that is the sum of a bunch of specs made to entice a certain consumer, but rather a full eco-system - hardware, os and software and control the whole thing to ensure the consumer experience is the best it can be.

Android is just the os - and the fact that they allow it to be altered by the hardware manufacturers, just like Microsoft does with it's os for the pc, means the overall experience can vary from maker to maker, handset to handset. It forces the handset makers to try to one up their competitors as quickly as they can. This doesn't create any brand loyalty and can negatively effect brand value.

It's not a sustainable model and one that will bite google in the butt - which is why they are acquiring Moto, so that they can start following the same business model as Apple. It's the only way that android will really start to get better.

 

[cynics]

My point was more that there is a distinct difference between Apple's model of creating not just a product that is the sum of a bunch of specs made to entice a certain consumer, but rather a full eco-system - hardware, os and software and control the whole thing to ensure the consumer experience is the best it can be.

Android is just the os - and the fact that they allow it to be altered by the hardware manufacturers, just like Microsoft does with it's os for the pc, means the overall experience can vary from maker to maker, handset to handset. It forces the handset makers to try to one up their competitors as quickly as they can. This doesn't create any brand loyalty and can negatively effect brand value.

It's not a sustainable model and one that will bite google in the butt - which is why they are acquiring Moto, so that they can start following the same business model as Apple. It's the only way that android will really start to get better.

In that case I agree with you for the most part.

However Google acquiring Motorola mobility is purely for their patents. Apple tried to stop it even though Google pledged to be non discriminatory and fair with Motorola's patents.

 

[sentinelsx]

If there was a way to develop native apps for iOS on my windows 7 machine it would be great! That was the only thing making me go for android. But android still disappoints in many areas i.e. app incompatibility and inconsistency, minor lags, battery life etc. Some of this can be rectified, some cannot, but its still not able to pull me off a puny 2010 era iPhone 4.

However WP7 is a very good alternative. The problem? Microsoft acting worse than Apple in choosing the hardware requirements. You don't use the UI whole day, you use the actual software and apps and with a first/second gen snapdragon things like high def video and more powerful apps are not going to happen. They need to step it up faster than Q4 or 2012.

 

[DodgeV83]

I finally decided to switch to the iPhone 4s after testing the HTC One X for a few days in the store and comparing it to the iPhone sitting just next to it. I was totally set on getting the One X since it was the first quad core based android phone and most importantly I loved the huge screen it offered.

But when I actually tested the google maps and web browsing, I was again reminded of the typical android lag/choppiness. Even my friend who is a devoted Android user commented "why the hell is it still laggy even though it's a quad core phone and why is the iPhone 4s still so smooth?".

While I'm still waiting to see an Android phone that doesn't lag, I'm starting to realize the iPhone line might always be ahead of the curve in terms of performance, due to its significantly increased price. Apparently, a Sprint rep was quoted as saying the iPhone costs them 40% more than the top of the line Android phones.

Even if the hardware and software on iOS weren't so tightly intertwined, I can see how the Android phone manufacturers are having trouble matching the iPhone on performance, when the iPhone is 40% more expensive (referring to how much it costs the carriers to buy the phones from Apple).

 

[dontwalkhand]

Did you keep your iPhone 4? If so, I would go back to it right away! .

I have always ended up right back here with iPhone after trying other phones. It is just that good!

 

[SurferMan]

While I'm still waiting to see an Android phone that doesn't lag, I'm starting to realize the iPhone line might always be ahead of the curve in terms of performance, due to its significantly increased price. Apparently, a Sprint rep was quoted as saying the iPhone costs them 40% more than the top of the line Android phones.

Even if the hardware and software on iOS weren't so tightly intertwined, I can see how the Android phone manufacturers are having trouble matching the iPhone on performance, when the iPhone is 40% more expensive (referring to how much it costs the carriers to buy the phones from Apple).

I don't know what is wrong with the phones you guys are using, but mine has been as smooth and fast as iOS, should say "previous" iOS as I noticed way more issues with glitches and lag on iOS5 on our 3 iPhones. I remember you mentioning videos, well all I know is I go on news, financials, and other sites all day if not around a computer and clicking links opens vids immediately and smoothly.

 

[amitabhbansal]

friends
i would like to share my views, i was not aware of apple devices till january 2011, i was a hardcore user of windows and nokia phones, in january 2011 someone suggest me to get an Apple Macbook Pro as i was fedup by windows, Mac was totally new to me, once i started using it, i came to know how simple and user friendly MAC is, and i was also very much sad about nokia and samsung fones, then i bought iphone 4, after few days of working on it, i was disappointed because of restrictions like BT transfer and every time i have to sync the phone with windows or mac to get my contacts updated, then i switched back to Samsung Galaxy Tab, it was awsome to me at that time, no restrictions and can download any app from internet and can play on it, but after few days i found crashing of the app and poor battery life etc etc, then i heard about IOS 5, it was little bit confusing to me in starting but after that i found it that its an awsome phone and IOS in this world, after that i bought IPAD 2, then iPhone 4s, and now Ipad 3, and i just even cant think of any other phone or gadget except Apple, its the bestest thing with bestest product i have ever used, in near future i will buy apple's everything.
This is just my experience, maybe differ to anyone. but Apple is the best

 

[EngageWithRage]

I personally do not like the feel of the Android OS, but that is just me, I ahve yet to try out the latest versions of it, may do so just to mess around with it. I am quite happy with my iOS (iPhone 4s) for many reasons. The OS is clean, works well and I know that no matter what happens I will always have a new version of the OS on my iPhone without having to upgrade to newer or different phone like with Android, The iOs is tailored just for the iPhone. It also just feels like a good quality phone, this coupled with the jailbreak which allows me to remove alot of the restrictions that Apple has placed just make it so much more appealing to me. This is of course my opinion.

 

[DodgeV83]

I don't know what is wrong with the phones you guys are using, but mine has been as smooth and fast as iOS, should say "previous" iOS as I noticed way more issues with glitches and lag on iOS5 on our 3 iPhones. I remember you mentioning videos, well all I know is I go on news, financials, and other sites all day if not around a computer and clicking links opens vids immediately and smoothly.

A friend of mine was demoing his HTC Rezound and almost every screen he went to had choppy scrolling.

The same friend a month earlier was demoing his Sony Xperia Play, started up Grand Theft Auto 3 and it was choppy. Definitely playable, but there were clear frame rate drops while driving.

2 co-workers said flash runs amazingly on their phones, so we went to CNN.com and it was unwatchable. One phone simply didn't load anything, and the other phone loaded the flash element for over a minute, then started buffering the video, and finally it played...at 1 frame per second.

Someone else just bought the HTC One S, and both Grand Theft Auto 3 and Skype have no audio.

 

[SurferMan]

A friend of mine was demoing his HTC Rezound and almost every screen he went to had choppy scrolling.

The same friend a month earlier was demoing his Sony Xperia Play, started up Grand Theft Auto 3 and it was choppy. Definitely playable, but there were clear frame rate drops while driving.

2 co-workers said flash runs amazingly on their phones, so we went to CNN.com and it was unwatchable. One phone simply didn't load anything, and the other phone loaded the flash element for over a minute, then started buffering the video, and finally it played...at 1 frame per second.

Someone else just bought the HTC One S, and both Grand Theft Auto 3 and Skype have no audio.

I have GTA3 and few other "intense" games like Brothers in Arms 2 etc (I would say the main one I play is Gun Bro's which is a lot to ask of a phone when there can be so many things going on screen at the same time lol, was my fave game on iOS and even better on Android), not much of a gamer, but they all play smooth for me. Six Guns is another recent one I got that's pretty cool too and nice. I also use CNN and both on wifi and hspa+ vids load immediately and smooth when I click their links. I was just on CNN again to check, and no probs.

Don't know whats wrong with your friends phones? But haven't used those models.

I used GTA3 on a friends iPhone, and didn't see any difference. Though the one thing I don't care for is the controls on both versions....I don't even think this was made directly for mobile, I believe it was a port which for an processor intense game is pretty impressive how well it plays on the iOS and Android (at least my phone lol) but the controls are a tad mehh on both OSs for a touch screen.

 

[DodgeV83]

I have GTA3 and few other "intense" games like Brothers in Arms 2 etc (I would say the main one I play is Gun Bro's which is a lot to ask of a phone when there can be so many things going on screen at the same time lol, was my fave game on iOS and even better on Android), not much of a gamer, but they all play smooth for me. Six Guns is another recent one I got that's pretty cool too and nice. I also use CNN and both on wifi and hspa+ vids load immediately and smooth when I click their links. I was just on CNN again to check, and no probs.

Don't know whats wrong with your friends phones? But haven't used those models.

I used GTA3 on a friends iPhone, and didn't see any difference. Though the one thing I don't care for is the controls on both versions....I don't even think this was made directly for mobile, I believe it was a port which for an processor intense game is pretty impressive how well it plays on the iOS and Android (at least my phone lol) but the controls are a tad mehh on both OSs for a touch screen.

That's good, I'm glad CNN finally enabled the HTML5 videos for other phones, always thought that was a bit silly.

I agree, the controls can take a bit of getting used to, but once the learning curve is over I don't even notice the controls. Lately I've been playing Infinity Blade 2, GTA3, Chrono Trigger, Dark Meadow, Sword and Sorcery, Galcon, Uniwar and my all-time favorite...

Max Payne

 

[Maziar]

I'm one of those guys who tried all mobile OS's for 1-2 year and decided to back to iOS again.
I bought an iPhone 4 as soon as it came out(my first ever Apple product) and had it for almost a year.

By that time,WP7.5 devices came out and I liked the looks of it,so I sold my iP4 and got a HTC Titan. WP 7.5 is butter smooth and has an excellent Facebook/twitter integration but it's got a lot of problems as well.First of all,there aren't much apps for WP7.5;furthermore,some popular apps/games such as Angrybirds aren't as smooth as the iOS version.Also it lacks a good notification system,you can't read a message/email from the lock screen and overall,although it's a great OS,it indeed lacks some important features.
Also,4.7" screen is fantastic for watching movies/web surfing but I found it much more difficult to use with one hand compared to the iPhone(don't get me wrong here,I love big screens but I really need something that I can use perfectly with one hand which I couldn't do it with the Titan).Some tasks such as navigating in the home screen/web pages were fine but most tasks such as texting/typing weren't and overall the phone didn't feel well with one hand.

In the mean time,a friend of mine bought a Galaxy note and I had the change to test it for 2-3 days.(It was the first time using an Android phone).And it's indeed a great OS and offers lots of customizations such as widgets/etc. and the S-pen is useful for some tasks but even it's got great specs,it wasn't as smooth as either iP4 or Titan.(Many say that's because of the widgets/apps running in the background,so I decided to remove all widgets and it helped but not much),even scrolling in the menus wasn't that smooth and of course,the phone is gigantic.5.3" is just too big for my taste and I found it ridiculous when I held it next to my ear.

So yes,Android is much more customizable than iOS but I'm like one of those guys who wants a straight OS for his mobile devices.I basically don't care about widgets/customization;however,that doesn't mean that iOS is perfect.There are lots of features which I hope Apple will add to iOS.

So after working with these 3 phones,I decided to go back to iOS(got an iPhone 4S) and I'm quite satisfied,but as I mentioned,I hope Apple makes some necessary changes in iOS 6.

Sorry for the long post

 

[DanBurns91]

okay.....a dual core faster than a quad+1 core....yeah yeah....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iutd8PzRtCc

 

[gpsouza]

I don't buy an android just because when my gf android have a problem and needs to update, somehow the 2.3.6 android version was available to Netherlands, and here in Portugal we can't go higher than 2.2... C'mon, it's the freaking same phone!

 

[cynics]

Both have there ups and downs. I feel like its all a matter of what you are willing to settle for.

Some want a super smooth UI while others want the phone to continue to multitask thus losing its smoothness.

Some want a phone that feels solid and expensive while others don't mind a plastic phone or prefer a more durable phone.

It's all opinions and none are right or wrong.

 

[blackhand1001]

If you had it for a month, you didn't try very hard at all it seems. I have had my SGS2 Skyrocket for about 2 weeks now, and I have not rooted it or placed any custom roms on it, yet I have an app that notifies me, even in standby, if I have an sms, email, text, app update and so on, via audio and visual notification. The app is called NoLED. And this also takes care of notification badges too, since NoLED tells you exactly how many missed calls, texts, sms messages, voice mails, charging indicator, current weather and any app you specify that updates.

Gmail is a POS email client. If you had ask sd any Android user, they would have guided you to K-9, although iOS'es email and Sparrow are much, much better than any Android email app. K-9 would have been in 3rd place to those 2, if it was on iOS.

Can't help the fact you have small hands and a 4.5 inch screen is too big. A little planning and educating yourself by playing with in store phones could have told you the S2 would be too big for you.

Point is, you don't have much in the way of a valid point. If you had given your opinion about the Android OS not being to your liking, or there was lag in the processes that you couldn't stand or some other hardware glitch, I could understand. But what you posted... That was more akin to someone complaining, just to complain, imo. Not hating on you, it's just how I perceived your post.

Personally, I enjoy using Android, but I also enjoy WebOS and iOS. Got no real complaints about any of them. It really seems like people hate on iOS or Android because they didn't educate themselves fully on the capabilities, or they are just hating to hate (you see this a lot on the Android forums, unfortunately.)

The stock ics email client is a huge leap forward. Whether or not samsung gives you it in touchwiz is another story though.