I've never had so many people asking about my Android phone

[akash.nu]

I feel bad for companies like HTC, LG, and Motorola that quietly innovate but are left fighting for table scraps. Sony is also clearly underrated but gets no love. You go to Best Buy, and they are bunched together while Apple and Samsung have their very own sections.

Samsung's J-series are more popular than their S-line around the world. Nokia was #1 globally from 1998-2011 because they made the best and cheap feature phones out there.

Samsung superceded Nokia because of Nokia's incompetence in the later years. They hung around with Symbian too long, had a Trojan horse CEO in Elop, and gambled on the losing horse called Windows Phone.

I never got attention from an iPhone or Samsung. Maybe once for an iPhone 4. Everyone I see has an iPhone in SoCal. My Stepfather likes Samsung and Android because he's a Windows PC guy. He doesn't care about walled ecosystems.

I'm probably the only hardcore Android fanboy in my entire family that I know of and I didn't like Android at first until two years after I started using it. I'm not into custom ROMs or rooting. I just like simple customization.

I remember going to Disneyland in Summer 2010 and I saw 90% iPhone users. This was back in 2010 when it was only on AT&T. Imagine now? I'm like Michael Fisher who doesn't want to look like a sheeple to any brand.

Look how Mr. Mobile covers up the glowing Apple logo on his 2015 MacBook Pro. He doesn't want to look like every Apple d bag hanging around a Starbucks.

I never found having an Apple or Samsung as a way of standing out from the crowd. In Asia, Samsung is common like Honda owners and iPhone users are here in the States.

What’s with the whole Apple user = sheep mindset?! Just buy the device that works for you. It’s as simple as that.

 

[timeconsumer]

I feel bad for companies like HTC, LG, and Motorola that quietly innovate but are left fighting for table scraps. Sony is also clearly underrated but gets no love. You go to Best Buy, and they are bunched together while Apple and Samsung have their very own sections.

Samsung's J-series are more popular than their S-line around the world. Nokia was #1 globally from 1998-2011 because they made the best and cheap feature phones out there.

Samsung superceded Nokia because of Nokia's incompetence in the later years. They hung around with Symbian too long, had a Trojan horse CEO in Elop, and gambled on the losing horse called Windows Phone.

I never got attention from an iPhone or Samsung. Maybe once for an iPhone 4. Everyone I see has an iPhone in SoCal. My Stepfather likes Samsung and Android because he's a Windows PC guy. He doesn't care about walled ecosystems.

I'm probably the only hardcore Android fanboy in my entire family that I know of and I didn't like Android at first until two years after I started using it. I'm not into custom ROMs or rooting. I just like simple customization.

I remember going to Disneyland in Summer 2010 and I saw 90% iPhone users. This was back in 2010 when it was only on AT&T. Imagine now? I'm like Michael Fisher who doesn't want to look like a sheeple to any brand.

Look how Mr. Mobile covers up the glowing Apple logo on his 2015 MacBook Pro. He doesn't want to look like every Apple d bag hanging around a Starbucks.

I never found having an Apple or Samsung as a way of standing out from the crowd. In Asia, Samsung is common like Honda owners and iPhone users are here in the States.

HTC, yes I agree.

LG has a bad reputation for devices boot looping plus the whole display issue with the Pixel 2 XL.

Motorola, this biggest complaint I hear about Motorola is the lack of monthly security updates but they seem to get the next version of Android OS eventually. But their devices are excellent for the price.

Sony is nice but they don't make their devices compatible with Verizon in the US which has a lot of customers and last time I checked the US variants didn't have a fingerprint sensor.

Samsung, you have to deal with TouchWiz which is fine for some but others don't like it. Also Samsung has bloatware you can't uninstall, I remember reading that they pre-install a Facebook app that you can't remove on their unlocked version, seriously? Another issue I have is that in the US, their unlocked versions seem to get left behind on monthly security updates.

I wouldn't recommend any device except for a Pixel or an iPhone. Two stock devices with good support and with guaranteed updates directly from the company who makes them.

 

[Puddled]

The situations you described naturally makes me believe that you do have access to internet. .

Sorry, you are quite correct. I was making it all up so that i could win an argument on the internet.

Please forgive me.

 

[840quadra]

You would think these threads are related to religion.

I think some people need to leave their preconceptions behind, and jump to the other camp for a stay every now and then. Quite a few of the opinions or comments regarding opposing ecosystems show a dated understanding, and closed minded approach to operating and using devices in either platform.

You will only find failure, if that is the only thing you are looking for to begin with.

 

[Puddled]

You would think these threads are related to religion.

I think some people need to leave their preconceptions behind, and jump to the other camp for a stay every now and then. Quite a few of the opinions or comments regarding opposing ecosystems show a dated understanding, and closed minded approach to operating and using devices in either platform.

You will only find failure, if that is the only thing you are looking for to begin with.

Funny enough, i would (and have been) consider returning to IOS on my next cycle. Even with the issues i can identify with myself, the Iphone 8 is a damn good phone and with a move away from the ridiculous 16gb, models, it ticks a lot of my boxes.
However, it is just so darn expensive that i don't think i can see a future where i can afford iPhone again. Apple dont do discounts and i keep my phones for as long as i can so buying last years model isn't an option.

I will just have to keep my IOS experience to fixing and maintaining the SO's iphones!

 

[macher]

Funny enough, i would (and have been) consider returning to IOS on my next cycle. Even with the issues i can identify with myself, the Iphone 8 is a damn good phone and with a move away from the ridiculous 16gb, models, it ticks a lot of my boxes.
However, it is just so darn expensive that i don't think i can see a future where i can afford iPhone again. Apple dont do discounts and i keep my phones for as long as i can so buying last years model isn't an option.

I will just have to keep my IOS experience to fixing and maintaining the SO's iphones!

The 6/7/8 models IMO are somewhat perfected devices.

 

[Zaft]

Since the release of the iPhone X there has been a significant increase in people asking how my Samsung S8 compares to the iPhone, how it syncs with my Mac, how I cope without iMessage etc. and I know of three friends/colleagues who have chosen to move from iPhone to the S8 since the X was released.

I also now get people asking if my S8 is an iPhone X at least once a day.

Reading these forums it would seem the iPhone is selling as well as ever, but my real world experience is quite different. I wonder if this might be a turning point in the smartphone world (after all, iPhone can't be so popular forever).

My real world experience has everyone switching to IOS. It balances itself out.

 

[macher]

HTC, yes I agree.

LG has a bad reputation for devices boot looping plus the whole display issue with the Pixel 2 XL.

Motorola, this biggest complaint I hear about Motorola is the lack of monthly security updates but they seem to get the next version of Android OS eventually. But their devices are excellent for the price.

Sony is nice but they don't make their devices compatible with Verizon in the US which has a lot of customers and last time I checked the US variants didn't have a fingerprint sensor.

Samsung, you have to deal with TouchWiz which is fine for some but others don't like it. Also Samsung has bloatware you can't uninstall, I remember reading that they pre-install a Facebook app that you can't remove on their unlocked version, seriously? Another issue I have is that in the US, their unlocked versions seem to get left behind on monthly security updates.

I wouldn't recommend any device except for a Pixel or an iPhone. Two stock devices with good support and with guaranteed updates directly from the company who makes them.

Yea for me the only real stable OS’s are iOS and stock Android. Actually the Pixel 2 I really like as much as iOS and if it wasn’t for iMessage I would switch. I message a lot and like how iMessage works with all my devices. Boggles my mind why Google either doesn’t care or can’t get an app like iMessage.

 

[Tinmania]

Apple have been happy to copy elements of Android in the past (just like Google have copied from iOS) and IMO they really need to do something to freshen up the look of iOS and relieve the jarring effect of a wall of icons on the home screen.

Even having them in a grid that allows spaces and gaps would be an improvement!

I hope they never allow that, or make it a feature you have to turn on manually.

Being the go-to "tech guy" I find myself having to help people with phone issues. If you think the average Android home screen looks like the pic here, forget it. It's usually a jumbled mess of home screens, with a sprinkling of icons on each one, randomly placed. And half the time the apps they use most are not even on a home screen--they use the application viewer to launch. iPhones can be a mess too, but not THAT bad.


Mike

 

[timeconsumer]

Yea for me the only real stable OS’s are iOS and stock Android. Actually the Pixel 2 I really like as much as iOS and if it wasn’t for iMessage I would switch. I message a lot and like how iMessage works with all my devices. Boggles my mind why Google either doesn’t care or can’t get an app like iMessage.

Agreed! iMessage is the hardest thing for me in my switch to a Pixel so far. My main uses of a phone are messaging, browsing and email. Also, after putting in one workout with my old Garmin vivoactive I'm missing the Apple Watch A LOT! So, if I switch back it will be because of iMessage and the Apple Watch.

 

[mib1800]

Agreed! iMessage is the hardest thing for me in my switch to a Pixel so far. My main uses of a phone are messaging, browsing and email. Also, after putting in one workout with my old Garmin vivoactive I'm missing the Apple Watch A LOT! So, if I switch back it will be because of iMessage and the Apple Watch.

So for those who attach no importance to iMessage, Android is so much better with better functions and more flexibility and at half the price (eg S8 vs ipx)

 

[timeconsumer]

So for those who attach no importance to iMessage, Android is so much better with better functions and more flexibility and at half the price (eg S8 vs ipx)

I'd have to agree with you there. But everyone has different use cases so it's not necessarily that simple.

 

[Lilok]

View attachment 737883
In the United States, Samsung has less than 30% market share compared to the nearly 45% with Apple.

Apple is the #1 OEM for mobile in the States since 2010 when it surpassed RiM. The US is mostly a postpaid country. It isn't prepaid which is what most of the world is. Other countries have to pay a larger upfront cost while Americans use two-year installments with carriers.

Americans get iPhones the cheapest while our stronger dollar and taxed imports makes poorer countries to typically pay higher by about a few hundred dollars. In South Korea, iPhone X goes for $230 higher.

Thats funny. I would agree, but I live in austria near germany and we too have super cheap installment plans. We even have to pay only about 20€ for unlimited, fast internet a month.

Also, the euro is stronger than the dollar but we STILL have to pay waaay more for apple products. How so?

Whats also interesting is that i wasnt aware of the iphones popularity in the u.s. (still) o_0
Because in europe it feels this brand is fading away more and more every year. I barely see people using iphones anymore...less brand loyalty i guess...

 

[timeconsumer]

Thats funny. I would agree, but I live in austria near germany and we too have super cheap installment plans. We even have to pay only about 20€ for unlimited, fast internet a month.

Also, the euro is stronger than the dollar but we STILL have to pay waaay more for apple products. How so?

Whats also interesting is that i wasnt aware of the iphones popularity in the u.s. (still) o_0
Because in europe it feels this brand is fading away more and more every year. I barely see people using iphones anymore...less brand loyalty i guess...

What phones do you typically see people using there?

 

[Lilok]

What phones do you typically see people using there?

Well, of course i see lots of iphones still. Most of them are iphone 5 and 6 (appreciating the headphone jack i guess ^^) But the percentage dropped significantly.
Now i see mostly Samsung, Huawei, Lg and Sony devices. Lots of ZTE also lately. An then the usual cheap china-knockoffs.

So i guess its about 25% iphones here and 30% android flagships (or lets just say, very, very good ones ) The rest are cheaper android and or other platforms...


Ps; whats funny is that nobody knows the pixel here. Zero. Nada. But then again, google isnt selling them in austria ( neither in germany, i think...)

 

[Phil A.]

I hope they never allow that, or make it a feature you have to turn on manually.

Being the go-to "tech guy" I find myself having to help people with phone issues. If you think the average Android home screen looks like the pic here, forget it. It's usually a jumbled mess of home screens, with a sprinkling of icons on each one, randomly placed. And half the time the apps they use most are not even on a home screen--they use the application viewer to launch. iPhones can be a mess too, but not THAT bad.


Mike

Well, that screen is my own phone so it's normal for me

I understand what you're saying though and I think an option to turn on free-form layout would be the best of both worlds.

 

[Tig Bitties]

I think LG has come a long way. My wife got the G6 back in spring. And you know what ? It just works. Seriously it's just a solid phone with no issues. It's not fancy or the cool phone. But gets good battery life, really no lag, and is a solid performer.

Based on that I picked up the V30 last week. I Pixelized it; Pixel 2 launcher, made all Google apps default, and debloated the LG stuff and T-Mobile stuff. And this phone us very fast and super smooth. It looks super modern and gets outstanding battery life.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I hope they never allow that, or make it a feature you have to turn on manually.

Being the go-to "tech guy" I find myself having to help people with phone issues. If you think the average Android home screen looks like the pic here, forget it. It's usually a jumbled mess of home screens, with a sprinkling of icons on each one, randomly placed. And half the time the apps they use most are not even on a home screen--they use the application viewer to launch. iPhones can be a mess too, but not THAT bad.


Mike

This is so true. Even my mother's Note 4 is a complete mess. But she knows where everything is and refuses to let me clean up the home screens for her.

 

[Tinmania]

This is so true. Even my mother's Note 4 is a complete mess. But she knows where everything is and refuses to let me clean up the home screens for her.

Thankfully you asked! I didn't and wow there was hell to pay. Granted it was my wife, not my mom, but I still won't do that again without permission.


Mike

 

[AustinIllini]

Thankfully you asked! I didn't and wow there was hell to pay. Granted it was my wife, not my mom, but I still won't do that again without permission.


Mike

That's arguably worse, lol. I swap out my wife's iPhone every 2 years and she is cool with that. Any time in between is a no-go.

 

[Godf1st]

This is simply not true. We use multiple iOS and Android devices across various manufacturers to test our apps and systems everyday and Android lag is very apparent even on the S8 and the new note devices.

The S8+ I owned had a little bit of lag and poor ram management. It took Samsung to put 6gbs of ram in the note 8 just to fix poor ram management. Also, the US variant of Samsung devices can no longer have their bootloaders unlocked. Thus leading to no true freedom that android users use to prefer. Over time the customizations on there get stale also.

 

[Mildredop]

I feel bad for companies like HTC, LG, and Motorola that quietly innovate but are left fighting for table scraps.

I loved my Moto X. The active display to show notifications was genius and something I swore I could never live without. And I loved the way the screen woke as you approached it. It was fantastic.

Then they brought out the new one, made it absolutely massive and ditched the headphone jack. Suddenly it wasn't even worth considering. So I moved to Samsung.

The companies you mentioned (LG, HTC, Motorola) seem to make great phones and then spoil them with a couple of weird decisions. Apple do the same (camera bump, no headphone jack, no touch ID etc) but they've built-up a very loyal customer base (and they offer integrated alternatives to the tech they remove).

Samsung seem to be the only manufacturer who listens to their customer research and builds phones that don't alienate huge numbers of potential buyers.

 

[macher]

That's arguably worse, lol. I swap out my wife's iPhone every 2 years and she is cool with that. Any time in between is a no-go.

I swap my wife’s too. But here’s the kicker. She currently has a 6 Plus and wants a smaller form factor. I had an X for 2 weeks and she didn’t like it. She’s used to the 6/7 navigation etc. I was thinking swapping hers out for an 8 and giving her my 7 and keeping the 8. To be honest I prefer the hardware of the 7 Space Gray. It’s industrial stealthy looking. Wireless charging is nice but not a deal breaker. Fast charging I sort of get charging my 7 with an iPad charger. I tested this and in 30 minutes it charges 45%.

I just might swap her out for a 7 but my thought it why not swap out for the latest and greatest with same form factor? The one thing I hate about the 7 is battery life. I’m a heavy user and I have to have a portable battery pack with me. Other than that I’m happy with the 6/7/8 form factor and IMO the footprint and chassis is the best Apple has made to date and is still king of one thumb use.

 

[sparky08]

Apple has lost their uniqueness by eliminating the home button. The X looks just like the S8 at first glance.
[doublepost=1511617867][/doublepost]

Personally, I think this

View attachment 738010

looks considerably less cluttered than the iOS alternative.

View attachment 738011


Also, with taller screens, filling from the top is a bad idea from an usability perspective

Wow, that really highlights the difference. I like the Android so much better.

 

[The Game 161]

Apple has lost their uniqueness by eliminating the home button. The X looks just like the S8 at first glance.
[doublepost=1511617867][/doublepost]

Wow, that really highlights the difference. I like the Android so much better.

Thats not a bad thing

Honestly due to the notch I don't think people will get the x confused with the S8 at all. the x is what a 2017 device should be in terms of screen/bezels/look