Is there a single reason other than AirPlay & Mirroring to stick with the iPhone?

[saintforlife]

AirPlay and AirPlay mirroring is the one single killer reason I am still using an iPhone. It is a amazing feature and works like magic.

Otherwise at this point the iPhone is inferior to every other platform in many ways:

- 4" screen is dwarfed by Android and WP8 flagship phones. Hence the iPhone makes for a crappy web browsing and vide watching experience.
- Nokia Lumia 920 far exceeds the camera quality and features of the iPhone now
- Phones like the HTC One X and the Galaxy S3 have the ability to take pics in a burst mode - very handy if you have kids. Even the iPhone 5 doesn't have this feature which is a bit disappointing.
- All WP8 devices will have free OFF-LINE mapping and navigation in 129 countries around the world (Apple - no offline Maps. Nightmare for frequent international travelers and for people who like using the Maps app but have limited data plans
- Accept it. Typing on the iPhone SUCKS! The ridiculous 640 horizontal pixels and narrow squished make typing a chore with lots of mistakes. Android and WP keyboard offerings are light years ahead.
- No automatic text reflow in Safari blows. Add the small screen size on top of it, you will go crazy navigating certain sites.
- etc.

What are some reasons you stick with the iPhone in spite of its many limitations? Is it just inertia? Afraid of having to learn a new platform? Afraid of being out of your comfort zone?

 

[Stropaganda]

What are some reasons you stick with the iPhone in spite of its many limitations?

I've never used an iPhone, but I hear the ecosystem and app store are the biggest reasons to stick with it.

Afraid of having to learn a new platform? Afraid of being out of your comfort zone?

I don't see why anyone would be afraid of using another platform. It's a phone. It's not that serious. Plus, is that really a good way to live? Afraid of anything new? Afraid of challenges?

I think learning new things is fun. I would love to get an iOS device, which I will soon, and see what all the fuss is about and what it can do.

 

[b24pgg]

I'm pretty sure there are a ton of AirPlay apps for Android

 

[saintforlife]

I've never used an iPhone, but I hear the ecosystem and app store are the biggest reasons to stick with it.

I think the apps on the other platforms are slowing closing the gap to Apple. Apple no longer has as big an advantage in this area as it once had.

 

[tbayrgs]

AirPlay and AirPlay mirroring is the one single reason I am still using an iPhone.

Otherwise at thid point the iPhone is inferior to every other platform:
- 4" screen is dwarfed by Android and WP8 flagship phones
- Nokia Lumia 920 far exceeds the camera quality and features of the iPhone now
- All WP8 devices will have free OFF-LINE mapping and navigation in 129 countries around the world (Apple - no offline Maps. Nightmare for frequent international travelers and for people who like using the Maps app but have limited data plans
- Accept it. Typing on the iPhone SUCKS! The ridiculous 640 horizontal pixels and narrow squished make typing a chore with lots of mistakes. Android and WP keyboard offerings are light years ahead.
- No automatic text reflow in Safari blows. Add the small screen size on top of it, you will go crazy navigating certain sites.
- etc.

What are some reasons you stick with the iPhone in spite of its many limitations? Is it just inertia? Afraid of having to learn a new platform? Afraid of being out of your comfort zone?

It's all based on personal preferences. I've been using a Galaxy Nexus for a few weeks as my everyday device and playing with it on and off since July. I can certainly understand the appeal of Android and the larger devices but much of it is lost on me because of my preference for Apple products throughout my household.

- I actually don't like using the larger screen, specifically in regards to one handed use. I don't have small hands but reaching across and up to the top just isn't feasible.

- I carry an iPad most places with me so web browsing is usually done with it so I don't need the larger screen for web browsing on my phone. If I didn't have the iPad, I'd probably be less accepting of the smaller screen.

- not really sure how you can pass judgement on the camera of either the new 5 or the Lumia 920 as you haven't been able to use either. The Lumia certainly looks great on paper but the camera on the 4s is considered one of the better available and early reviews of the 5's camera are also very good.

- I also use iMessage a ton, love AirPlay as well, actually use Facetime quite a bit with family (my kids love it), use iCloud for data syncing across my wife's and my devices, same with Photostream, and love the design and build quality of the iPhone since the 4.

All that being said, I've also used Windows Phone and actually like it quite a bit, even more so than Amdroid and really like the look of the Lumia 920. If I can find one secondhand after it's been out for a while I'll probable give it a go as well.

 

[Stropaganda]

I think the apps on the other platforms are slowing closing the gap to Apple. Apple no longer has as big an advantage in this area as it once had.

Well, then...that's not good for Apple.

Also, what is AirPlay and Mirroring?

 

[saintforlife]

Also, what is AirPlay and Mirroring?

Hope this helps:
http://www.apple.com/airplay

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5209

 

[sddabrow]

I was thinking about this today, as I'm looking at leaving Sprint and going to the Note 2 on Verizon. Here is what makes me re-think it (note I do jailbreak)

1. iMessage on laptop, iPad, and phone. Love it because all of my friends have iPhones. I can just use my iPad at night on the couch and leave my phone in the other room.

2. Pandora skip on jailbreak. Amazing for car rides, no ads and unlimited skips. I'm sure I could pay for a similar service, but this is free!

3. Apps. iOS seems to always get much more polished and newer apps. They are always updated first and updated regularly. Oddly enough Pandora never worked on my Evo due to poor sprint service. However, once I got the iPhone is worked in those bad service spots. So better performing apps?

4. Siri. I used her today on ios6 and it was just really nice. Google now does look amazing too though. My issue is I would go to a Samsung device where S voice looks awful.

5. I'm in deep with the Apple eco system. Mac, iPad, Bose dock, car cables, Apple TV, etc.

6. Group texting on android with all your iPhone buddies? Very fragmented. See my recent post in this section.

7. Battery life? Debatable depending on device, but I love the battery life on my iphone4S compared to my last phone, Evo.

I'm sure I will think of more and post them here. However, I have very similar arguments as to why Android over iOS.

I'm pretty much split right down the middle!

 

[Stropaganda]

I was thinking about this today, as I'm looking at leaving Sprint and going to the Note 2 on Verizon. Here is what makes me re-think it (note I do jailbreak)

1. iMessage on laptop, iPad, and phone. Love it because all of my friends have iPhones. I can just use my iPad at night on the couch and leave my phone in the other room.

2. Pandora skip on jailbreak. Amazing for car rides, no ads and unlimited skips. I'm sure I could pay for a similar service, but this is free!

3. Apps. iOS seems to always get much more polished and newer apps. They are always updated first and updated regularly. Oddly enough Pandora never worked on my Evo due to poor sprint service. However, once I got the iPhone is worked in those bad service spots. So better performing apps?

4. Siri. I used her today on ios6 and it was just really nice. Google now does look amazing too though. My issue is I would go to a Samsung device where S voice looks awful.

5. I'm in deep with the Apple eco system. Mac, iPad, Bose dock, car cables, Apple TV, etc.

6. Group texting on android with all your iPhone buddies? Very fragmented. See my recent post in this section.

7. Battery life? Debatable depending on device, but I love the battery life on my iphone4S compared to my last phone, Evo.

I'm sure I will think of more and post them here. However, I have very similar arguments as to why Android over iOS.

I'm pretty much split right down the middle!

Lemme try to do my best to lend some of my limited Android knowledge.

1. I don't believe there is anything like iMessage for android. There is an app called AirDroid, though, which is awesome. It syncs up with your computer wirelessly by going to a URL, pushing the app on your phone, and scanning a QR code. It then goes to a menu where you can see your texts, videos, pictures, call logs, and explore your file system of the phone. You can drag and drop apk to install them (for unofficial third-party apps) or drag and drop regular files onto the phone wherever you see fit. I don't know if this will work with a tablet, but it might. It just uses a browser. Anyway, awesome, awesome app.

http://airdroid.com/

Edit: It does work with a tablet. Look at the last sentence of the first question in the FAQ. http://airdroid.com/userguide.html

2. I have no idea if you can get unlimited skips on pandora. I know you can use an app called AdAway to get rid of ads on apps.

Edit: Google-fu! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVtQUjiU8tY

3. Can't really argue as I've never owned an iPhone. I do know that some apps are not available on Android (Damn you, Ascension. Check out Ascension game if you haven't already. It's amazing.). I hear that this is changing from people though. Perhaps the 60+% market share for droid is fixing this a bit.

4. Google Now is better than Siri. It's not as funny or conversational, but it gets things faster and looks/sounds better IMO.

Just compare for yourself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDsOtdRtG0Q

If you get the Note 2, I believe the OS will be a Samsung skinned version of Jellybean. If so, you will have Google Now. If not, you can root and flash stock Jellybean, which I would do anyway, to get it. Stock Android is almost always faster and more beautiful.

5. Yeah, can't help you there. The good news if you switch is that you are not tied down with Droid. You can use it with anything, even Macs! Just try to move as much stuff to Dropbox or Google Drive to make the transfer easier.

Edit: Just saw this app. I would check it out, man. http://doubletwist.com/

Here is where I found it. http://www.pcworld.com/article/2559...d_phone_device_a_work_or_play_powerhouse.html

6. Third-party app is all you can do for now. I have no idea how good they are or how they work. I've never used them. Maybe I'll try sometime.

7. Yeah, this just varies for every device. I hear the Motorola Razr Maxx has a huge battery with a charge that lasts all day and then some. My Nexus barely gets me through the day and I charge it at work. It's a weak point of most Android phones, but it's really up to the phone manufacturers.

 

[3bs]

7. Yeah, this just varies for every device. I hear the Motorola Razr Maxx has a huge battery with a charge that lasts all day and then some. My Nexus barely gets me through the day and I charge it at work. It's a weak point of most Android phones, but it's really up to the phone manufacturers.

While I've been getting decent battery life out of my S3 I still carry around a fully charged battery with me. Why don't you consider getting a battery charger and an extra battery for your phone? Or maybe the extended battery which really doesn't add much in thickness do to the indentation on the back of your phone GNex.

 

[Stropaganda]

While I've been getting decent battery life out of my S3 I still carry around a fully charged battery with me. Why don't you consider getting a battery charger and an extra battery for your phone? Or maybe the extended battery which really doesn't add much in thickness do to the indentation on the back of your phone GNex.

I'm just a bit of a purist and a fan of minimalism. I couldn't carry around a battery. Hell, I wouldn't even remember to bring it along unless I really made it a habit. The extended battery is a fine idea, but I feel dirty paying for something that should've just been there in the first place. I hope that the new S4 chipsets will make the new phones coming out much more power efficient.

I bought an extra charger for around $10 for my cubicle at work so I just charge it all the time. Wake up, take my phone off the charger, go to work, charge it at work, go about my day, and finally charge it at my house before I go to bed. I only run out of juice if I spend the night somewhere where I can't borrow a charger.