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iPhone 5 falling behind Android or catching up?
- Thread starter dmelgar
- Start date
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my favorite android feature is the ability to add custom ROMS and to remove the spy ware that the carriers and the manufacturer has added.
My information is my property, and my property is very valuable. You can only have it if you pay me for it,and I explicitly agree to the terms.
My information is my property, and my property is very valuable. You can only have it if you pay me for it,and I explicitly agree to the terms.
iOS has fallen behind Android in terms of innovative new features, but does the basic things much much better. I was almost convinced that Apple lost the race to Android until I gave the iphone 5 a try, but the phone just completely changed my mind.
The iphone 5 is the best smartphone I've ever used hands down. While it lacks those innovative new features (and still gets some minor things wrong like the notification menu), it does nearly everything you could want in a communication device flawlessly. It's the intangibles that people ignore when a new device is marketed that really make it stand out: the screen, the speed, the reliability and precision. I mocked all these things when the 4 came out, but they really are a nice change.
Android is catching up. ICS was revolutionary in that it approached iOS's precision and reliability. Jellybean was a further refinement of that. I am sure that after a few more years of refining that OS, Android will be just as polished as iOS unless there are patents holding them back.
The iphone 5 is the best smartphone I've ever used hands down. While it lacks those innovative new features (and still gets some minor things wrong like the notification menu), it does nearly everything you could want in a communication device flawlessly. It's the intangibles that people ignore when a new device is marketed that really make it stand out: the screen, the speed, the reliability and precision. I mocked all these things when the 4 came out, but they really are a nice change.
Android is catching up. ICS was revolutionary in that it approached iOS's precision and reliability. Jellybean was a further refinement of that. I am sure that after a few more years of refining that OS, Android will be just as polished as iOS unless there are patents holding them back.
What new features? I tried a S3 and saw a bunch of features to make their chart look better, but few were practical. Tilt to zoom is my favorite feature to showcase non-useful, clueless imitation of gestures.
What is so dramatically better in the latest crop of Android phones?
Folks talk about the HTC Thunderbolt like its from the stone age. This was the premier phone in May 2011, just 1 1/2 years ago. The iPhone 4 had already been out for months, iPhone 4S came out 5 months later. Yet this phone is somehow ancient.
After using the HTC One X for 2 weeks I would say Android has passed iOS up in some areas but is still behind in others. I think its more that iOS is specifically designed for the iPhone while Android is made to be used with many different manufactures. I don't know how android can make up for this but even the high end androids don't seem to have the speed or smoothness that the iPhone 5 has. I had 4.0 on the One X so I don't know how much better 4.1 will be but I can say I'm really happy I went with the 5. I do get why some people like Android so much because it really does have some great features. I think its just personal preference and I really don't understand why people argue so much about Android vs iPhone. I get what works best for me but I dont see the point in bashing someone else because they prefer a different OS. Its good to have options out there and it makes the market more competitive so I hope Android continues to improve because it should make Apple work that much harder. Who knows, next year I could end up with the S4 instead of the iPhone 5S.
It's not catching up it's offering a totally different smart phone.
Just because Android has "other" features doesn't make them as useful as the IOS operating system.
And how many times has it got to be said..4"3, 4"7, 5" tablet/notes/Galaxy phones are too large to hold.
How can Motorola make a phone the size of an iPhone 4/4S with a 4.3" screen and people still claim there too big. Now Apple has a bigger phone with a smaller screen and its easier to hold? I guess if we continue to pick worse case scenarios the competition will never add up.
I think it's totally overblown when people say that Android is so buggy, unstable or laggy. But it probably doesn't help that it's so fragmented and that many phones are a couple versions behind at times. Even if we were to take the comparison to Android out of the equation I still think it's valid to compare what you get with many cydia tweaks and apps on a jailbroken iphone. Not all are polished and refined but most major ones are. I agree that Apple does have to polish something before incorporating it into the next release but I think their advancement is too slow. For example, many of us probably could not live without notification center at this point (at least comfortably) but there was a comparable tweak (arguably better after refinement) found in cydia since os3. I'm still waiting for them to incorporate some type of quick reply system for messaging and chat protocols but we will probably not see it until os 7 or 8 when they claim it's a "revolutionary" killer feature. If only jailbreaking wasn't attached to security holes and piracy
Larger than 4.3", yes for most hands. But there are 4.3" phones pretty much the same dimensions as the 3GS but thinner than the iphone 5. Sure it's a bit bigger than the 4 and 5 but no one would consider it too large to hold.
Oh yeah, the Razr-i has the length and thickness of the iphone 5 and slightly narrower than a 3GS but with a 4.3" screen. Apple could do this, look at what they stuffed into the body of a iphone 5.
It's not catching up it's offering a totally different smart phone.
Just because Android has "other" features doesn't make them as useful as the IOS operating system.
And how many times has it got to be said..4"3, 4"7, 5" tablet/notes/Galaxy phones are too large to hold.
Larger than 4.3", yes for most hands. But there are 4.3" phones pretty much the same dimensions as the 3GS but thinner than the iphone 5. Sure it's a bit bigger than the 4 and 5 but no one would consider it too large to hold.
Oh yeah, the Razr-i has the length and thickness of the iphone 5 and slightly narrower than a 3GS but with a 4.3" screen. Apple could do this, look at what they stuffed into the body of a iphone 5.
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Considering that I didn't even trash Android, your statement is utter garbage. My analogy clearly states, for the literate among us, that That Apple has achieved a level of excellence in people's minds that Android will never catch up too. There's nothing wrong with a feature-rich Buick, and I NEVER suggested there was. But no one will ever compare it to a Rolls Royce, and in the minds of the consumer, the iPhone is the Rolls Royce of cellphones. The overall quality is more meaningful to a lot of people rather than all the bells and whistles of other devices.
Oh, now I understand, you dont count features you dont use. OK well Im glad that tech companies dont have that same mind set, or we would never get any advancements at all.
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He was saying that just because you sell a ton doesnt make it the best.
Mc Donalds sells billions of hamburgers, but Rooth Christs is still better even with WAY lower sales.
A year and a half is very long time in the tech world at least according to Moore's law....
I dont really agree with you on when you say iOS has fallen behind in innovation... What stands out so much on Android that iOS doesnt have? You cant say flash because flash is off the Play Store... But regardless this is my point exactly. What you said hit the nail on the head, the intangibles and the reliability and speed of iPhones is just what makes them so good.. really thats the root of a phone, usability, etc...
Oh, I'll be simple with you: The ability to block text messages or calls from a specific phone number or how about being able to add multiple PDF attachments to an e-mail? Or how about split screen multi-tasking from the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 where you can open two apps side by side?
'stale' and 'out of date' lol.
I didn't know that a good UI has to be a gimmicky and pretty one
Name one element of the android UI that's more intuitive than iOS (no, widgets don't count)
Apple maps gets you lost frequently? Obviously you are just a fandroid who has no idea what you are talking about. Apple Maps is missing proper satellite imaging and POI data, but most roads...etc are in place; I've used it since the beta to travel to rural areas, it worked better than my stand-alone GPS ever did.
lol. Was wondering how long it would take for someone to criticize my overwhelming support of the iphone 5.
Only on this forum, I swear...
I agree that Maps needs a lot of work, but disagree completely with the UI looking stale. I prefer comfortable. All of the Apple Apps have been reworked, but I like the familiar comfort and ease of use of iOS. I don't want to learn a new OS every time I upgrade my phone. I like iOS just the way it is.
It's always funny how android users try to claim that their jellybean (ew.) is somehow on par with iOS in smoothness; I've used several devices running JB, and it still doesn't feel responsive enough for me.
iPhone may have some 'catching-up' to do in the customization part, but its fundamental functions are still way ahead of android. (at the very least, it doesnt take 5 iterations of OS updates to get a 'butter-smooth' experience that merely shoots up your CPU
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easy
Go to 'reader' mode in safari, change text size to whatever you prefer
For me it's falling behind. The S3 I picked up was nice, great screen and all but I think the i5 is a far superior phone FOR ME. So if I have no desire to use an android os'd based phone, it's falling behind.
Of course you're comparing hardware vs software but I believe we all know what you mean.
Of course you're comparing hardware vs software but I believe we all know what you mean.
I've never gotten lost but routes to a handful of places I tested launch day were all over the place (downtown LA and parts of Orange County). Also a few POIs were in the wrong location (by 10 miles at times) so I could see how some people may have gotten lost there. But to be fair I reported everything I could and a week later all the issues I saw were fixed including routes. I love the app itself for its layout, yelp integration and overall smoothness. Just needs more data. My friends from other countries (euro and asia) still have glaring problems however.
Looks like we've had very similar experience with apple maps
THIS is an honest review, unlike some trolls who love to blow things out of proportion even though they don't own an iOS device. To that fandroid I just quoted in my previous post, go back to your fragmented android forums.
I can see folks liking Android who haven't been burned by the lack of updates, the free but untended ecosystem. It sounds good at the beginning, but sours over time. But by then you forget iOS and don't remember or know what its like. iOS is generally more stable, just works, and continues to be supported. Android has open facilities that are often abused, such as background processes that misbehave.
I think part of the argument of Android vs. iPhone is the court cases. Its in the best interest of the companies involved to get the public riled up and rooting for their side. It does bring stark differences. I'm disappointed that the general consensus seems to think it was ok for Samsung to copy iPhone and that Apple should have just ignored it. But I think many in the Android community like Android because it seems free or at least cheaper. Don't want to pay for protected intellectual property.
They're totally different and aimed at a different demographic of people. Android is perfect for those who like to tinker and customize to their maximum potential. iOS on the other hand is made simple and easy to use by anyone. Not to say Android is too difficult to use but if you put both an Android and iOS device into a computer illiterate persons hands, iOS should be easier to grasp.
I spent a bit with a Galaxy Nexus and I really enjoyed the OS. I think they're both great. I actually had a hard time convincing myself to go back to iOS. iMessages is very important to me because I'm in a lot of areas where I only have wifi access. Another reason is I find that more applications come out for iOS first (and sometimes only) because its an easier system to develop for as well as more secure for companies who for example want to provide live tv streaming (such as my cable company). I also have a lot invested into the apple ecosystem (apple tv, airport expresses around the house, macs, apps, etc...).
I think the competition is good and I don't doubt I'll own an android device in the future. I don't believe in absolute brand loyalty. I purchase what works best for me needs.
I spent a bit with a Galaxy Nexus and I really enjoyed the OS. I think they're both great. I actually had a hard time convincing myself to go back to iOS. iMessages is very important to me because I'm in a lot of areas where I only have wifi access. Another reason is I find that more applications come out for iOS first (and sometimes only) because its an easier system to develop for as well as more secure for companies who for example want to provide live tv streaming (such as my cable company). I also have a lot invested into the apple ecosystem (apple tv, airport expresses around the house, macs, apps, etc...).
I think the competition is good and I don't doubt I'll own an android device in the future. I don't believe in absolute brand loyalty. I purchase what works best for me needs.
'stale' and 'out of date' lol.
I didn't know that a good UI has to be a gimmicky and pretty one
Name one element of the android UI that's more intuitive than iOS (no, widgets don't count)
Apple maps gets you lost frequently? Obviously you are just a fandroid who has no idea what you are talking about. Apple Maps is missing proper satellite imaging and POI data, but most roads...etc are in place; I've used it since the beta to travel to rural areas, it worked better than my stand-alone GPS ever did.
I think a lot of things about Android are more intuitive and vice versa. Like adding a PDF to an email, it very easy on Android. I had to get on this forum and ask how to do it in iOS.
I think the picture gallery in iOS is a mess too. How do I find a picture, I have over 700 and there is no dates? Takes me forever to find something.
I'm not a huge fan of the settings menu. Things are out of place and sometimes redundant, like location services. I feel like its a search when I need to adjust settings, not just going to it like in Android where you have an organized setup, network, device, personal, and system.
I don't think apps settings are intuitive either, some are in the app some are in settings.
I could find a lot of things but overall in general especially with iOS 6 I feel they are just squeezing features into the OS instead of redoing the OS for the features.
The split screen multi-tasking looks interesting. AFAIK, thats a Samsung addition, not part of Android. It only works with specific Samsung apps. And during the ads I've seen, they conveniently left out the keyboard which would have covered up one the app that was supposed to use it. Android users pointed that out. Typical Samsung, trying to put lipstick on it. I commend them for trying new features, but many seem haphazard. There are some interesting ideas. The Apple mantra has always been to be light on features but do them well. If you want lots of open customizability, you can try Windows or Linux as well.
Some of the features I found interesting on the S3 included the additional controls on the camera, "burst mode" - the quick series of shorts to pick the best one, the idea of saying a word to have S-Voice respond. Although in practice it didn't work and kills the battery. I actually loved their note app (S-memo) where you can do voice recognition into it and the words show up as you say them, not after you tell it to stop listening like all over voice recognitions.
Put I also like iOS6 panorama photos. Amazingly easy to use. And I prefer Siri to S-voice which seems like a rushed imitation. And if you're in the Apple eco-system, I'm loving iMessage, Find my Friends, and FaceTime. And Skype works way better as well without killing the battery.
Overall I think all the phones have reached "good enough" stage for everyone and it gets down to size preferences and support, which my past experience says is lacking on Android.
But back to the original point, I think iOS 6 and iPhone 5 are not lacking in any significant way vs. Android, unlike the iPhone 3, 3GS, 4. I think iPhone 5 is a huge step up, the best iPhone yet and compares very favorably to the Android flock.
Seriously, troll harder.
Obvious you've never even had a S3. So stop pretending you had one and stop making up these fairy tale stories of how the S3 is garbage compared to an ipad1.
It's obvious you're full of it because well, what do you know? I have an S3 and ipad1 right in front of me.
My S3 has never crashed in any web browser, let alone any app so far. My ipad1 on the other hand, crashes all the time when using Safari. You know why it crashes? Because of the measly 256mb of ram compared to 2gb's on the S3, so now you're just making crap up.
Your lying and blind fanboyism is showing.