All the icons look more polished, especially Settings and Maps. The wallpaper gives the cons added flair as well. The original home screen doesn't really have substance if you know what I mean.
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Phones Long time iPhone user switched to Galaxy S3
- Thread starter baaadboy
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All the icons look more polished, especially Settings and Maps. The wallpaper gives the cons added flair as well. The original home screen doesn't really have substance if you know what I mean.
@batting yeah i understand what you say, true the icons looks a bit more polish and god knows the mandatory black wallpaper was quite boring.
Ive been using that wallpaper for more than a year know
dont know but it feels right and make the screen more "happy" hehehe
Ive been using that wallpaper for more than a year know
dont know but it feels right and make the screen more "happy" hehehe
I too switched to the GS3 after having used iPhones for three years (3GS/4). I had a HTC Desire in between the two iPhones and absolutely hated it; Android and HTC Sense were clunky, the phone had terrible battery life even compared to the 3GS, there was virtually no storage for apps and the camera was rubbish - so I switched back to the iPhone when the 4 launched. Had that for two years, and coming onto the Galaxy S3 is a breath of fresh air for me. Android has become so much more refined than it was when I had the Desire, the entire internal storage can now be used for apps (finally) and I have the option to expand using the MicroSD slot (which I have done, for the camera and music).
In terms of the Galaxy S3 handset itself, I'm in love. The screen is every bit as lovely as the iPhone 4's, while being much bigger. I really like the UI and the widgets, and the phone itself is lightning fast. Battery life is better than my old iPhone's (the biggest gripe I had with the Desire) and all of the apps I used regularly on my iPhone are on the Desire; there's nothing at all I miss.
The two gripes I had with the GS3 when I first got it have been solved for me now. The first was the keyboard; I found I was much slower typing on it than the iPhone 4's, despite the larger size. The autocorrect feature wasn't a patch on the iPhone implementation. Fortunately, I found Jelly Bean Keyboard on the Play Store, which is much nicer to type on than the stock Samsung keyboard. The autocorrect feature is comparable to the iPhone in terms of accuracy, and will correct spaces, something the stock keyboard didn't do (and something I really missed from the iPhone!). Second is the issue of my speaker dock, but I've bought a Belkin bluetooth audio receiver, which makes that no issue at all now.
Overall, I'm extremely happy with it so far and think I've made the right choice.
In terms of the Galaxy S3 handset itself, I'm in love. The screen is every bit as lovely as the iPhone 4's, while being much bigger. I really like the UI and the widgets, and the phone itself is lightning fast. Battery life is better than my old iPhone's (the biggest gripe I had with the Desire) and all of the apps I used regularly on my iPhone are on the Desire; there's nothing at all I miss.
The two gripes I had with the GS3 when I first got it have been solved for me now. The first was the keyboard; I found I was much slower typing on it than the iPhone 4's, despite the larger size. The autocorrect feature wasn't a patch on the iPhone implementation. Fortunately, I found Jelly Bean Keyboard on the Play Store, which is much nicer to type on than the stock Samsung keyboard. The autocorrect feature is comparable to the iPhone in terms of accuracy, and will correct spaces, something the stock keyboard didn't do (and something I really missed from the iPhone!). Second is the issue of my speaker dock, but I've bought a Belkin bluetooth audio receiver, which makes that no issue at all now.
Overall, I'm extremely happy with it so far and think I've made the right choice.
I know it's been said a bunch of times: My reason for staying with an iPhone is simple: it seamlessly integrates with all of my other things. While I am certainly aware that there are options for Windows PC's to synchronize and such, it's considerably more "burdensome."
While Apple certainly has a price premium compared to its counterparts, I would say that I'm happy getting something "that just works."
While Apple certainly has a price premium compared to its counterparts, I would say that I'm happy getting something "that just works."
I was also on the fence on this one...however after extended use with the gf's S3 I have changed my mind.
Correct me if I am wrong but the userfriendlyness that Android has been boasting eg: customizability, etc...is it not equally matched and in some case surpassed by a jailbreak of the iphone?
most of everything that android has, you can get the same with the jailbreak...
so the only selling point of an android phone, imo, is just the big and beautiful screen!
This is correct but then rooting gives you more options. Some of which can't be accomplished with jailbreak.
I guess grass is always greener next door lol
I really wanted the gnex but decided on the S3 due to the micro sd slot. This phone is amazing I've had it for 2 weeks now, super fast, great camera, screen is crazy clear. Just orderedva 64gig card for it off of amazon for 60 bucks can't beat that!
Download Swiftkey 3 and Swype keyboard. I use this last one and it will blow your mind away. Now I write 2x faster than on any keyboard.
If Apple could add Swype to its iOS devices it would be awesome.
Speaking of keyboards... the Jelly Bean keyboard is a step back from the ICS keyboard. Strangely, it's more like iOS' keyboard now.
My complaints:
Backspacing is a ton slower;
It doesn't catch autocorrection as reliably as it used to (I shouldn't ever see "thr" which typically autocorrects to "the" but it sometimes misses it);
It misses keys where in ICS it never did.
I don't fully understand what's happening on a programing level (maybe they changed the algorithms or whatever to aid predictive text thus making it slower? Don't know..) but the stock JB keyboard is a step back.
I'm hoping it's just early glitches in JB, but something tells me it's not.
My complaints:
Backspacing is a ton slower;
It doesn't catch autocorrection as reliably as it used to (I shouldn't ever see "thr" which typically autocorrects to "the" but it sometimes misses it);
It misses keys where in ICS it never did.
I don't fully understand what's happening on a programing level (maybe they changed the algorithms or whatever to aid predictive text thus making it slower? Don't know..) but the stock JB keyboard is a step back.
I'm hoping it's just early glitches in JB, but something tells me it's not.
Seeing how the first Galaxy S is getting JB ROMS Im sure the SGS3 will get at least two more OS updates via ROMS after JB. With its high end hardware CM will probably keep releasing their ROMS on it after JB, so the phone has at least 3 more years of life updates (outside Samsung obviously).
Just a guess.
Just a guess.
I will never understand why anyone uses those stock keyboards. They are all crap compared to Swiftkey 3. Besides, the predictive text, I like the fact that all the special keys are right there on the keyboard and require a slightly longer press to engage them. No flipping between keyboard for @ or $ or ().
Of course, just telling your Android phone what to type is a lot easier too.
Biggest gripe for me is the iOS keyboard. I hate the stock one and the 5 row one, but only because the auto correct and auto capitilize are complete PITA!
I've always been impressed by Swiftkey, but it also felt like I was getting my messages done slower. You had to keep an eye on the suggestion bar and if it got it wrong, you had to type it in yourself. It sort of breaks the flow.
Just me though.
I switched from the 4S to the Galaxy S3. I just returned it though, and switched back to my 4S. I loved everything about the S3, except for the poor screen visibililty outside in the sunlight. on a bright sunny day the screen is barely visible, even when the brightness was at it's highest. My 4S screen is much easier to see in bright sunlight.
I bought an iPhone 4S in February and I've loved it and still loving it, I agree that the hardware is not as incredible as the Samsung Galaxy S3 but Software... Touchwiz no thanks.
To me the deal breaker when I had to choose was 'after you buy the phone': the cases, the apps, the accessories in general.
In my opinion the design of the 4S is still very nice but a bigger screen is something that it is lacking.
If the rumors are true that the next gen. iPhone will be just taller I think that Apple will lose a big market share. Obviously all the fanboys will be loving it and saying that a 3,5" was way to small (while they used to say that a 3,5" was perfect). But is it innovative? Is Apple taking a risk when they announce an iPhone that's just slightly taller?
No.
Anyways I love my 4S, if I had a Samsung Galaxy S3, I'd love it, it all depends on what you like/prefer and what you want.
The real difference is not in specs, it's in how it functions for you.
To me the deal breaker when I had to choose was 'after you buy the phone': the cases, the apps, the accessories in general.
In my opinion the design of the 4S is still very nice but a bigger screen is something that it is lacking.
If the rumors are true that the next gen. iPhone will be just taller I think that Apple will lose a big market share. Obviously all the fanboys will be loving it and saying that a 3,5" was way to small (while they used to say that a 3,5" was perfect). But is it innovative? Is Apple taking a risk when they announce an iPhone that's just slightly taller?
No.
Anyways I love my 4S, if I had a Samsung Galaxy S3, I'd love it, it all depends on what you like/prefer and what you want.
The real difference is not in specs, it's in how it functions for you.
If the taller screen in the new iPhone is true then content will still seem smaller despite the increase in screen. Think about it: text will look just the same (more líneas of text will appear but the overall size of text will still be the same. It will still be difficult to read). Its kind of an illusion. Its a bigger screen but everything will still look small.
That is why I changed for the S3 also. I can change the size of the font to make it bigger or smaller if I chose too.
My point was, that Safari's buttons took some getting used to. It's probably second nature to you now, as it is to me. I have been using it for five years. I'd be interested in how "intuitive" these features are to someone who has never used a smartphone. When I visit the parents, I'd consider showing my mom. Problem is, she is completely inept when it comes to technology, so she might be a worse-than-average candidate!
No worries. I basically disappeared too! LOL. Didn't realize the time clock was telling me it's time to go home too!
As mentioned, there are a handful of (what I consider) small things that one OS can do that the other can not (this goes both ways). Your examples of Airplay were spot on. While the function can certainly be duplicated with certain handsets, it is not ubiquitous throughout Android. Simple things like sending files via email, however, are completely absent in iOS, as was mentioned in another's example. We will at least be able to attach multiple pictures easily via iOS6 which, admittedly, is 99% of what I attach to emails anyway, but it's shocking that this sort of functionality isn't just baked in, at least to me.
At the end of the day, when a person asks me (and this often happens) whether they should go with Android or iOS, I always ask them what their general computer aptitude is as well as what other products they have in their home. If they have never used either OS (and don't have a bundle of other Apple products at home) I feel like the playing feel today is pretty level. We need to remember that this person who is new to smartphones probably isn't going to be as nit picky about certain specific features as a power user would be.
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With that screen, text will be the same size, but we will have more of it per page. personally I expect them to do push content consumption, assuming the screen is as the rumors showcase it. True widescreen HD video playback.
Personally, I have never had a problem with text size. I have always wanted more space for content on the page. That said, I would have liked it wider too, namely for adding keyboard area.
I love swype on my SGS3 but this keyboard on the Nexus 7 is quite good as well. I feel its word prediction is at least on par with the iPhone.
It's like a Smart Phone for the visually impaired.
Not trying to insult anyone, I looked at it because of my eye sight.
It would be great, but as a phone it is just too damn big.
So I went to a T-Mobile store today to borrow their sim card to test my 4S' unlock. Worked great, connected to Tmo's network right away. On my way out I played with their demo S3. It did not lag and run hot like my previous two demos at two other stores. Drove straight to Bestbuy and got myself an S3 Compared to the Nexus on Jelly Bean there's still the occasional hiccup, the Nexus on JB is fast and smooth everywhere all the time, faster than the 4S. But I'll trade it for the much better camera, SD slot, and longer battery life. LTE just a bonus I don't yet care for. I do have to find out why this keyboard lags when I try to type fast, no lag on the Nexus like this.
As soon as I connected it to my home wifi, it found my shared music and recorded TV shows on my HTPC, I didn't have to do a thing. I guess the extra bloat Samsung put on is not all completely useless.
This transition to Android is much easier and smoother than I thought, the toughest thing now is the couple hundred bucks worth of apps and games I give up for it, but I still have my iPad for my iOS fix.
Compared to the Nexus on Jelly Bean there's still the occasional hiccup, the Nexus on JB is fast and smooth everywhere all the time, faster than the 4S. But I'll trade it for the much better camera, SD slot, and longer battery life. LTE just a bonus I don't yet care for. I do have to find out why this keyboard lags when I try to type fast, no lag on the Nexus like this.As soon as I connected it to my home wifi, it found my shared music and recorded TV shows on my HTPC, I didn't have to do a thing. I guess the extra bloat Samsung put on is not all completely useless.
This transition to Android is much easier and smoother than I thought, the toughest thing now is the couple hundred bucks worth of apps and games I give up for it, but I still have my iPad for my iOS fix.
I find the stock ICS and JB keyboards to have better word pridiction than the iPhone too.
I do have one negative about the GS3. Screen is nearly unreadable for me in sunlight. The screen though it is nice, isnt bright enough for me in the sun. Its not a real big deal really as im not usually trying to use it in direct sunlight but it was annoying today.
Well, you have been in Steve Jobs' reality distortion field too long. Have fun with your "seamlessly integrating" igadgets which "just work". Ah and which have the brilliant, awesome, excellent, perfect "Retina Display".
So you really like files. Cool. Enjoy.
By the way, that was the only advantage you listed.
There was no reason for that. Attacking everyone who gives an opinion of why they choose an iPhone in an iPhone thread just shows your own fanboyish insecurities.